p  Miniflen  cautioned   againft  the 
Occafions  of  Contempt. 

A 

S    E    R    M    O    ]% 

Preached  before  the 

Minifters  of  the  Province 

OF  THE 

MASSACHUSETTS-BAY,  i 


AT  THEIR 


*  Animal  Convention, 

In  BOSTON*,  May  31.  1744. 


By  CHARLES  CHAUNCY,  D.  D. 

Paftor  of  the  firft  Church  there. 

^ _  _. 

^.  B.  The  Things  pafled  over  for  Want  of  Time, 
when  the  Sermon  was  preached,  are  inferted  in 
their  proper  Places. 


,     Printed   by  ROGERS  and  FOWLE,  for  SAMUEL 
ELIOT  in  Cornhill.    i  7  4  4« 

'-'-•- 


,... 
,,..,:     .-•    : 


.... 


M  jf**1  * 

At  the  Annherfary  Convention  of 
Minifters  erf"  the  Province  of 
the  MASSACHUSETTS-BAY,  in 
NEW-ENGLAND,  met  at  BOS- 
TON, May  31.  1744. 


y  That  Thanks  be  returned 
to  the  Reverend  Dr.  CHAUNCY 
for  his  Sermon  preached  before 
the  Convention  this  Day  5  and 
that  he  be  defired  to  content  to 
the  Publication  of  it. 


*  PRINCE,  Scriba. 

:&&^v'j&K?::-%?'£.  -J".  ,m 

&££&&   T^C  ,         "^Mf" 


••• 


::  \:^ff.r*--^M;:-":  -.    ' 

Convention  SERMON. 

TITUS    II.   15, 
Let   no  Man   defpife  thee. 


Epiftle,  out  of  which  I  have  taken  the 
Text, was  ferit  by  Paul  to  Titus.     It  would 
take  up  too  much  of  the  Time  allow  *d  me, 
to  enter  upon  the  Character  of  this  eminent 
of  SOD  ;  especially  in  his  Capacity  as  an  Of- 
the  Church  of  CHRIST,  under  which  Confide- 
and  not  as  a  private  Chriftian,  he  is  here  wrote 


i 

Servant 
ficer  in 
ration, 
to. 


I  fhall  only  fay,  he  was  one  of  Paul's  Converts,  a 
Fellow-Labourer  with  him  in  the  Kingdom  and  Pati- 
ence of  JESUS  CHRIST,  and  his  Companion  in  Travels. 
It  was  with  Paul  that  he  -tfent  to  Crete  ;  and  by  him 
he  was  left  there  to  ferve  the  Ends  of  the  Gofpel. 
Some  fay,  he  was  now  conftituted  Bi/hof  of  Crete  ; 
but  'tis  remarkable,  he  is  not  fpoken  of  as  the  Bijbopof 
this  Place,  by  any  of  the  Fathers  within  the  three  firft 
Centuries  :  Nor  does  the  Scripture  at  all  favour  fuch 


6      A  Convention  SERMON. 

a  Notion.     It  rather  reprefents  him  as  tarrying  here  on 
fome  temporary  Occafion,  than  as  a  fat  Officer, 

The  Story  is  thus, 

Paul  and  Titus,  upon  their  coming  to  Crete,  found 
Things  in  a  very  unfettled  State.  For  though  confi- 
derable  Numbers  had  embraced  Chriftianity,  they  had 
too  much  neglected  Order.  They  had  few  or  no  or- 
dained Elders  among  them  ;  and,  perhaps,  were  not  as 
yet  formed  into  diftinct  Churches  :  Or,  if  this  was  the 
Cafe,  they  had  not  got  into  a  regular  State,  without 
which  'tis  impofiible  Societies  fhould  fubfift  long  with- 
out falling  into  Confufion.  Now,  for  this  Caufe  it  was, 
tiiat  Titus  was  left  in  Crete,  tbat  he  might  fet  in  Order 
the  Things  that  were  wanting,  and  ordain  Elders  in  eve- 
ry City  :  Which,  when  he  had  done,  the  more  fpecial 
End  of  his  Continuance  in  this  Place  was  anfwered,and 
he  might  travel  elfewhere,  as  in  all  Probability  he  did. 

But  however  this  be,  his  being  at  Crete,  in  the  Ser- 
vice of  CHRIST,  and  under  peculiar  Circumftances  of 
Difficulty,  was  the  Occafion  of  Paul's  writing  this  E- 
piftle  to  him  ;  in  which,  many  are  the  Advices  he 
gives  him  for  the  Direction  of  his  Conduct,  as  one  in- 
trufted  with  theManagement  of  the  Affairs  of  CHRIST'S 
Kingdom. 

He  is  very  particular  in  mifiding  him  of  the  necef~ 
fary  Qualifications  for  the  facred  Office,  that  he  might 
put  none  into  it,  who  were  not  fit  for  fo  important  a 
Truft.  And  he  the  rather  chofe  to  enlarge  upon  this 
Head,  as  many  unruly  and  Fain-talkers  and  Deceivers 
were  (battered  up  and  down,  fulverting  whole  Houfes, 
and  teaching  Things  they  ought  not  for  filthy  Lucr/s  Sake. 
It  may  feem  ftrange,  that,  in  the  Days  of  the  Apoftles, 
there  fhould  be  fuch  Numbers  of  falfe  Teachers  :  But 
fo  it  was  in  Fact  j  yea,  and  they  were  grown  to  fuch 

an 


. 

Convention  SERMON.      7 

an  Height  in  Impudence,  even  in  thofe  primitive  Times, 
that  they  could  exalt  themfelves  above  the  very  Apof- 
ties.  And  in  Order  to  this,  they  were  fo  far  Matters 
in  the  Art  of  Deceit,  as  to  transform  themj relves  into 
\Angels  of  Light :  Nor  did  they  ftick  at  any  Thing,  fo 
they  could  but  leflen  the  Apoftolic  Reputation,  and 
wind  themfelves  into  the  Affedttons  of  the  Populace. 
The  Afoftk  feems  very  follicitous,  that  the  Church 
might  be  rid  of  thefe  falfe  and  dangerous  Teachers  ; 
and,  as  the  beft  Expedient  to  this  End,  dire&s,  that 
none  might  have  committed  to  them  the  Difpenfation 
of  the  Gofpel,  but  well  qualified  Perfbns  ;  one  efTen- 
tial  Requifite  in  whofe  Chara&er  he  has  declared  muft 
be  that,  able,  by  found  Do ftrine,  both  to  exhort  and  con- 
vince the  Gainfayers. 
•-HLV. 

Upon  which  it  is  natural  to  remark,  if  none  are  al- 
low'd  to  be  intrufted  with  the  Miniftry  but  thofe  who 
have  Ability  to  convince  Gain-fayers,  it  mufl  certainly 
be  the  Duty  of  fuch,  when  they  are  in  the  Miniftry,  to 
makeUfe  of  this  Ability  againft  thofe,  who  teach  Things 
which  they  ought  not.  How  elfe  will  they  anfwer  one 
of  the  exprefs  Ends  of  their  being  put  into  the  facred 
Office  ?  And  to  what  Purpofe  is  it,  that  this  Ability 
muft  be  found  in  them,  if  'tis  not  their  Duty  to  make 
Ufe  of  it,  as  the  Occafion  of  the  Church  mall  render 
it  needful  ? 

But  among  all  the  Directions  given  to  fittts,  for  his 
Conduct  as  a  Minifter,  there  is  no  one  of  more  Weight 
than  that  in  the  Text,  Let  no  Man  defpife  thee.  And 
*tis  of  common  Obligation  on  all,  whom  it  has  pleafed 
God  to  put  into  the  Miniftry.  They  fhould  all  behave 
fb  as  not  to  be  defpifed,  fo  as  to  give  no  juft  Occafion 
to  be  fo.  That's  the  Meaning  of  the  Words.  O- 
therwife,  Minifters  would  have  a  hard  Tafk  indeed. 
Their  Duty  would  be  an  utter  Impoffibility.  For  'tis 
not  in  their  Power,  though  they  fhould  be  as  wife  as 

Serpents, 


8       A  Convention  SERMON: 

Serpents,  and  harmlefs  as  Doves,  to  pafs  through  the 
World,  and  not  be  defpifed,  They  may,  through  the 
Supply  of  the  SPIRIT  of  JESUS  CHRIST,  bghave  fo 
circumipe&ly  and  inoffenfively,  as  that  none  may  have 
Reafon  to  treat  them  with  Contempt ;  but  they  can't 
command  the  Wills  of  other  Men,  they  have  not  the 
Government  of  their  Pafllons,  or  Prejudices,  or  Lofts. 
The  GREAT  SAVIOUR  himfelf,  though  a  Prophet  of 
unfpotted  Innocence,  was  yet  defpifed  of  Men.  And 
Jhall  the  Dffciple  be  above  his  LORD  ?  Shall  the  World 
vilify  the  MASTER,  and  the  Servant  be  better  treated  ? 
The  Spirit  of  too  many  is  fiich,  that  we  may  expedb, 
be  we  as  cautious  as  we  will,  to  be  derided.  And  this 
indeed  feems  to  be  implied  in  the  Text  it  felf.  The 
Exhortation,  Let  no  Man  defpife  thee^  plainly  fuppofes 
a  too  great  Pronenefs  in  People  to  treat  Minifters  with 
Contempt  -,  and  their  Duty  lies,  not  in  People's  not 
clelpifing  them,  but  in  not  deferving  their  Contempt, 
in  doing  nothing  that  may  lay  a  juft  Foundation  For 
it. 

In  further  fpeaking  to  the  Text,  I  fliall, 

I.  Say  fomething  of  that  Difpofition  there  is  in  Peo- 
ple to  defpife  the  Minifters  of  CHRIST. 

II.  Show  wherein  they  fliould  take  Care  to  avoid  the 
Qccafions  of  Contempt. 

III.  Reprefent  the  Obligations  which  lie  upon  them 
to  fuch  a  Care. 

The  whole  will  then  be  followed  with  fome  futable 
Application. 

I.  I  am,  in  the  firft  Place,  to  fpeak  of  that  Diffqfi- 
tion  there  is  in  People  to  defpife  the  Minifters  of  CHRIST, 
Not  that  I  would  infinuate,  as  if  they  were  generally 
faulty  in  this  Refpedt  Many  there  are,GODhe  ifcank- 
ed,  who  acknowledge  the  fpecial  Relation  they  bear 
to  JESUS  CHRIST,  and  treat  them  as  Stewards  °f  fa 
Myjleries  of  GOD  j  Deeming  them  bigty  fr  Love,  both 

for 


A  Convention  SERMON.       9 

for  their  Office,  and  Wortfs  Sake.  And  fome,  it  may 
be,  think  more  highly  of  them  than  is  meet.  Thole, 
-to  be  fure,  do  fo,  who  have  thtirPerfons  in  Admiration  \ 
btindly  receiving  all  they  fay,  as  though  it  were  infalli- 
ble Truth.  This  is  doing  them  too  much  Honour  ; 
yea,  'tis  placing  them  in  the  Room  of  CHRIST,  and 
calling  them  Mafter  in  Oppofition  to  the  one  Mafter  in 
Heaven.  Brethren,  we  renounce  all  claim  to  fuch  un- 
due Reverence.  We  don't  pretend  to  have  Dominion 
ever  your  Faith,  but  only  to  be  Helpers  of  your  Joy. 
And  inftead  of  an  implicit  Faith  in  our  Dictates,  we 
commend  to  you  the  Example  of  the  noble  Bereans, 
who  fearched  the  Scriptures  daily,  to  fee  whether  the 
Things  taught  them  were  the  Truths  of  GOD,  yea,  or 
nay  :  Nor  dare  we  advife  you  to  hold  faft  what  we  de- 
liver to  you,  in  the  Courfe  of  our  Preaching,  only  as 
.  you  perceive  it  to  be  good,  upon  full  Proof  from  the 
Word  of  CHRIST.  To  the  Law,  and  to  theTeftimony  : 
If  what  we  fay  does  not  agree  herewith,  there  is  no 
Light  nor  Truth  in  it. 

You  may,  perhaps,  have  conceiv'd  fo  high  an  Opi- 
nion of  the  uncommon  Sanctity  of  fome  particular  Mi- 
nifters,  in  Diflinclion  from  others,  and  the  divine  Tea- 
chings they  are  under,  as  to  fuppofe  them  to  have  got 
beyond  all  Danger  of  Miftakes.  -,  you  may  be  ready  to 
think  it  impoflible  you  mould  err,  while  you  follow 
the  Inftru6tions  of  Men  filled  with  fuch  extraordinary 
Meafures  of  the  HOLY  GHOST  :  But  you  ought  to 
remember,  'tis  not  always  thofe  who  make  the  greatefl 
Pretences  to  the  SPIRIT,  who  are  mod  favoured  with 
his  real  Influences  ;  nor  are  any  fmce  the  Days  of  In- 
fpiration,  fo  led  by  the  SPIRIT  as  to  be  infallible.  A- 
las  !  the  beft  qualified  Minifters  are  but  Men  -,  Men 
of  like  Paffions  with  your  felves  :  And  of  this  they  too 
often  give  Proof  by  the  Errors  they  run  into,  in  Prin- 
ciple as  well  as  Practice.  They  may  not  therefore  be 
depended  on,  as  though  you  could  not  be  mifguided  by 

B  them. 


io      A  Convention  SERMON, 

them.  Be  their  Gifts,  or  Graces,  or  Z0al,  what  they 
will  j  or  let  their  Pretences  to  the  immediate  Conduct 
of  the  Divine  SPIRIT  be  as  peremptory  as  they  will, 
you  .mud  not  believe  this,or  the  other  Thing,to  be  the 
Truth,  as  it  is  in  JESUS,  upon  their  Authority  :  No, 
but  you  muft  bring  what  they  fay,  with  an  unprejudic- 
ed Mind,  to  the  HOLY  BIBLE  •,  clofing  in  with  it,  or 
rejecting  it,  as  you  find  it,  upon  Trial,to  agree  or  difa- 
gree  with  that  one  only  I'eft  of  all  religiousTruth  :  Nor 
will  you  otherwife  be  able  to  excufe  your  felves  ano- 
ther Day.  It  won't  then  fuffice  to  plead,  that  you 
were  told  this,or  that,  by  thofe  you  efteemed  Men  ex* 
traor  dinar  ily  afTifled  by  the  SPIRIT  j  for  you  had  the 
Scriptures  to  repair  to,  and  might  have  examined  what 
they  faid  by  that  facred  and  unerring  Rule  :  Which,  if 
you  neglected  to  do,  believing  Man  rather  than  GOD, 
how  will  you  hold  up  your  Heads  ?  'Twon't  leflen, 
but  aggravate  your  Fault,  to  pretend  you  fubmitted 
your  Confciences  to  meer  humane  Dictates  ;  for  it  will 
then  appear,  that  your  embracing  any  Thing  for  a 
Truth  of  GOD,  upon  any  Authority  Ihort  of  his,  was 
fetting  up  that  Authority  in  his  Throne,  and  paying 
that  Honour  to  the  Creature,  which  is  due  only  to  the 
Creator* 

But  if  there  are  fome,  who  rife  too  high  in  their  Re- 
fpecls  to  Minifters,  are  there  not  others,  on  the  con- 
trary Extreme,  who  fall  as  much  too  low  ?  And  is 
not  this  the  Spirit  evidently  prevailing  at  this  Day  ? 
Are  there  not  many  who  vilify  the  Office  it  felf,  treat- 
ing it  with  Sneer  and  Ridicule  ?  And  what  Wonder, 
if  the  Perfons  of  Minifters  don't  efcape  the  Scorn  and 
Contempt  of  fiich  ?  They  have  indeed  a  pitiful  Tho't- 
of  all  of  this  Profeflion  •,  and  fpare  none,  though  of 
the  moil  fhining  Accomplifhments.  If  they  know  no- 
thing more  of  a  Man  than  that  he  is  a  Minifiber,  'tis 
enough  with  them  to  finifh  his  Character  ;  This  alone 
will  give  them  a  low  mean  Opinion  of  him  -,  though 
without  cither  Candour  Or  Juftice,  Not 


A  Convention  SERMON.      1 1 

Not  but  that  there  •  have  been,  among  the  Clergy^ 
both  weak  and  'vicious  Men.  It  would  be  a  flrange 
Thing  indeed  if  their  hadn't.  But  why  rnuft  the  \vhoie 
Order  fuffer  Reproach  on  this  Account  ?  Is  this  fair?  It 
is  thought  to  be  fo  in  other  Profeflions  ?  If  there  arc  any 
who  make  themfelves  vile,let  them  bear  all  thelndignity 
they  defrrve  :  But  where  is  the  Equity  of  blaming  the 
Innocent  with  the  Guilty  ?  Are  there  not  Men  of 
Worth  in  the  facred  Fundtion,  as  well  as  in  other  Em- 
ployments ?  Men  of  Capacity  and  Integrity,  yea,  and 
of  extenfive  Uiefulnefs,  through  their  abundant  La- 
bours in  the  Caufe  of  GOD  ?  And  mall  they  all,  not- 
withftanding,  be  condemned,  and  by  the  Lump  too,  as 
a  Parcel  of  fimple,  or  elfe  crafty  and  defigning  Men  ? 

This,  I  know,  has  fometimes  been  fuggefted,  if  not 
plainly  fpoken  out,  to  the  Prejudice  of  their  Reputati- 
on ;  and  with  all  the  Embellishments  of  Wit  and 
Railery.  But  if  Men,  profefTedly  of  no  Principles, 
are  Enemies  to  thofe,  whofe  Bufinefs  it  is  to  plead  the 
Caufe  of  Virtue  and  true  Religion,  what  is  it  more  than 
might  be  expedted  ?  Nor  would  they  act  up  to  their 
Character,  if,  rather  than  not  afperfe  them,  they  did 
not  make  a  handle  of  any  Thing  -,  and  inftead  of 
folid  Argument  exer:  themfelves  in  prophane  Banter, 

I  may  not  impertinently  add  here,  *Tis  not  only  a- 
mong  atheiftical  vicious-Men  that  Minift.ers  are  treated 
with  Contempt.  They  have  appear'd  flrangely  prone 
to  defpife  one  another,  and  to  take  all  Occafions  to  do 
fov,  .and  this  has  been  too  much  their  Way,  in  all 
Places,  and  Ages  of  the  World.  If  fome  Minifies 
han't  had  Light  to  think,  or  fpeak,  juft  as  fome  others 
would  haye  them,  how  commonly  have  they  been  the 
Objects  of  their  Contempt  ?  What  Names  of  Igno- 
miny and  Reproach  have  been  can:  upon  them  ?  And 
how  has  die  Spirit  of  Contempt  been  propagated  from 
Mmifters  to  People,  to  the  great  Hindrance  of  the 
B  * 


12,      A  Convention  SERMON. 

Gofpel  ?  Perhaps,  forne  of  the  Minifters  of  CHRIST, 
and  it  may  be  as  faithful  Minifters  as  any  in  theGofpel- 
Church,  have  fuffered  more  from  their  own  Brethren, 
and  fuch  among  the  People  as  have  been  fet  on  Fire 
by  them,  than  they  ever  have,  even  from  foul-mouth'd 
Infidels.  Says  the  excellent  Mr.  Baxter,  fpeaking  of 
the  Sectaries  of  his  Day,  "  They  have  quite  out-ftrip- 
"  ped  the  profane  Scorners  of  the  Miniftry. — By  ma- 
"  ny  Years  Experience  in  converfmg  with  thefe  Men, 
"  I  can  fpeak  it  knowingly,  that  the  chiefeft  of  their 
"  Zeal  is  let  out  againft  the  faithful  Minifters  of 
"  CHRIST.  He  is  the  ableft  of  their  Preachers,  that 
<c  can  rail  at  them  in  the  vileft  Language.  It  is  their 
<c  moft  common  Difcourfe,  in  all  Companies,  both  god- 
"  ly  and  profane,  to  vilify  the  Miniftry,  and  make 
"  them  odious  to  all  ;  partly,  by  Slanders,  and  partly 
"  by  Scorns.  Is  this  the  Way  to  win  Souls  ?  Where- 
"  as  formerly  they  thought,  that  if  a  Man  were 
"  won  to  a  Love  of  the  Miniftry,  and  Ordinan- 
"  ces,  he  was  in  a  hopeful  Way  of  being  won  to 
"  God  ;  now  thefe  Men  are  diligent  to  bring  all 
"  Men  to  fcorn  them,  as  if  this  were  all  that  was  ne- 
ir  cefTary  to  the  favingof  their  Souls,  and  he  only  fhall 
c  be  happy,  that  can  deride  at  Minifters  and  Difci- 
"  pline."  He  adds,  "  If  any  Man  doubt  of  the 
"  Truth  of  what  I  fay,  he  is  a  Stranger  in  England*^ 

I  will  not  go  about  to  draw  a  Parallel  between  the 
late  Times  in  this  Land,  and  thofe  referred  to  by  this 
pious  and  learned  Writer  ;  but  thus  much  I  may  be 
allow'd  to  fay,  that  the  Body  of*the  Minifters  were  ne- 
ver treated  with  more  Infult  and  Contempt  than  by 
Multitudes,  and  of  thofe  too,  who  once  efteemed  them 
the  Glory  of  New-England :  Nor  were  they  ever  more 
hardly  cenfured  than  by  fome  of  their  own  Order,  from 
whom  they  might  have  expected  better  Things.  It 
will  not  be  denied,  that*hey  have  had  all  Manner  of 
Evil  fpoken  againft  them,  and  this,  in  the  Face  of 

crowded 


A  Convention  SERMON.      1 3 

crowded  Auditories.  And  are  there  not  Numbers,  in 
many  Places,  who  have  learned,  from  their  admired 
Teachers,,  to  give  them  no  better  Names  than  Pharifees, 
blind  Leaders  of  the  Blind,  Oppofers  of  CHRIST,  and 
what  not  ?  And  han't  this  Contempt  been  thrown 
upon  as  valuable  Minifters  as  any  the  LORD  JESUS 
CHRIST  has  in  the  Country,  of  as  known  Sonndnefs  in 
the  Faith,  and  as  exemplary  a  Walk  in  Conformity  to  the 
Precepts  of  the  Gofpel  ? 

Let  us  not  be  difcouraged,  my  Brethren  ;  what  tho* 
we  are  defpifed,  not  only  by  Men  of  no  Religion,  but 
thofe  who  pretend  to  a  great  Deal  ?  This  was  the  Lot 
of  infpired  Apoftles  ;  yea,  of  JESUS  CHRIST  himfelf : 
And  it  has  often  been  the  Lot  of  his  moil  faithful  Mi- 
nifters ever  fmce.  Meerly  our  being  defpifed,  is  not 
our  Fault,  tho'  it  may  be  our  Unhappinefs.  The  Fault 
is,  to  deferve  Contempt  *,  and  we  cannot,  it  muft  be 
own'd,  be  too  much  upon  our  Guard,  that  there  may  be 
no  juft  Reafon  to  charge  it  upon  us :  Which  leads  me 
to  the  next  Thing,  namely, 

II.  To  mew  wherein  Minifters  mould  take  Care  to 
give  no  Occafion  of  Contempt.  And  their  Care  Ihould 
be  expreft  in  the  following  Particulars. 

T.  If  they  would  not  be  defpis'd,  they  fhould  fee  to 
it  that  they  ben't  ignorant.  It  was  required  under  the 
Jewijh  (Economy,  that  the  Priejfs  Lips  fhould  preferve 
Knowledge,becmfe  the  People  were  to  ajk  the  Law  at  his 
Mouth.  And  the  fameThing  is  equally  necefTary,  under 
the  Difpenfation  by  JESUS  CHRIST.  Gofpel-Minifters 
fhould  be  as  Scribes  inftrufled  unto  the  Kingdom  of  Hea- 
ven -,  they  fhould  be  like  the  good  Houfholder,  who  can 
bring  out  of  his  Treafure  "Things  new  and  old.  'Tis 
mentioned  by  the  infpired  Paul,  as  an  e/ential  Qualifi- 
tation  of  a  Guide  to  Souls,  that  he  be  apt  to  teach,  and 
by  found  Doftrine*  both  to  exhort  and  convince  the 

Gain- 


14     d  Convention  SERMON. 

Gainfayers.  And  can  the  Minifter  be  thus  fitted  for 
his  Office,  without  confiderable  Degrees  of  Knowledge? 
He  ought,  certainly,  to  be  a  Man  above  the  common 
Level  for  natural  Capacities  :  Nor  is  this  enough  ;  but 
his  Powers  ought  to  be  well  cultivated  by  a, good  Edu- 
cation. He  ought  to  have  Skill  in  the  learned  Arts 
and  Languages,  fo  as  to  be  ready  to  make  ufe  of  them 
in  the  Service  of  the  Sanftuary,  as  Occafion  may  call 
for  it :  Nor  otherwife  will  he  rife  above  juft  Contempt. 

It  may  reafonably  be  expected  of  Minifters,  that  they 
fhould  have  made  confiderable  Attainments,  particu- 
larly in  the  Knowledge  of  Divinity.  How  elfe  fhould 
they  be  Teachers  of  others  in  this  noble  Art  ?  Shall 
Men  be  ignorant  in  their  own  Profeffion  ?  How  in- 
congruous is  this  ?  What  can  more  ftrongly  tend  to 
render  them  defpicable  ?  What  will  actually  bring  up- 
on them  greater  Contempt  ? 

Not  but  that  illiterate  Men  are  fometimes  mightily 
cried  up  ;  raw  ignorant  Novices  highly  applauded  and 
admired :  But  'tis  only  among  fuch  as  have  need  to 
abound  yet  more  and  more  in  'Knowledge  and  Judgment : 
As  for  others,  who,  by  Reafon  of  Ufe,  have  their  Senfes 
exercifed  to  difcern  both  Good  and  Evil,  they  readily  per- 
ceive the  Infufficiency  of  Teachers,  under/landing  nei- 
ther what  they  fay,  nor  whereof  they  affirm.  Nor  would 
it  be  flrange,  if,  in  their  Behaviour,  they  fhould  ex- 
prefs  the  low  Opinion  they  entertain  of  them.  And 
the  Contempt  due  to  fuch  blind  Guides  will,  with  Juf- 
tice,  be  reflected  on  others  of  the  fame  Order,  if  they 
appear  forward  to  invite,  them  into  their  Pulpits ;  efpe- 
daily,  if  they  do  it  to  the  Neglect  of  thofe  who  are  of 
known  eftablilhed  Merit,  and  hereby  baulk  their  own 
Judgment  to  fall  in  with  the  popular  Humour^,  #-,. 

......  ,  gygP^ 

It  may  be  worth  Confideration,  We  live  in  an  Age, 
wherein  there  is  feme  Learning  as  well  as  a  great  deal 

of 


A  Convention  SERMON.      1 5 

of  Ignorance  :  And  thare  are,  among  our  Hearers,  a 
eonfiderable  Number/  eminent  for  their  good  Senfe 
and  acquired  Accomplifriments :  And  it  muft  needs  be 
diftafteful  to  fuch,  to  behold  thofe  fet  up  for  publick 
Teachers i  who  need  themfetoes  to  be  taught  which  be  the 
frft  Principles  of  the  Oracles  of  GOD.  They  can't 
help  conceiving  a  mean  Thought  of  fuch  Medlers 
with  what  they  are  neither  qualified  for,  nor  called  to  j 
and  their  being  careffed,  not  only  by  the  Populace^ 
(  which  is  no  Wonder )  but  by  thofe  cloathed  with  the 
f  acred  Charaffer,  is  a  Damage  to  Minifters  in  general. 
It  makes  their  Credit  run  low  ;  and  in  vain  will  they 
complain,  if  they  are  treated  as  a  Set  of  Men  knowing 
very  little,  though  they  pretend  to  know  a  great  Deal, 

It  will*  doubtlefs,  be  here  faid,  the  Apoftles  them- 
felves,  the  firft  Preachers  of  the  Gofpel,  were  a  Set  of 
ordinary  Men,  deftitute  of  the  Advantage  of  Learning, 
And  'tis  readily  own'd,  the  moil  of  them  were  Ib.  But 
then  'tis  obfervable,  they  were  not  allow'd  to  go  forth 
from  Jerufalem,  to  teach  the  Nations,  '////  they  been  had 
indued  with  Power  from  on  High.  \.  e.  'till  the  HOLY 
GHOST  had,  in  a  miraculous  Manner,  fitted  them  for 
their  Work.  So  that  'tis  aMiftake  to  think  the  Apoftles 
commenc'd  Preachers,  while  unfnrnifli'd  for  the  facred 
Employment.  5Tis  true,  they  did  not  pafs  thro'  a 
Courfe  of  Study  preparatory  to  their  Miffion  as  Mini- 
fters 5  but  'tis  as  true,  that  the  Want  of  this  was  abun- 
dantly made  up,  by  the  Effufion  of  the  HOLY  GHOST 
upon  them  in  miraculous  Gifts  -,  enabling  them  not  on- 
ly to  fpeak  with  Tongues,  but  without  previous  Me- 
ditation, and  fo  as  to  be  infallible  Guides  to  Men,  in 
the  Way  to  Salvation. 

Some,  perhaps,  while  they  are  meer  Novices,  may 
take  upon  them  the  Office  of  the  Miniftry,  expecting 
the  Beftowment  of  the  SPIRIT,  in  extraordinary  Gifts  ; 
as  in  the  Days  of  the  Apgftles,  But  they  herein  err, 

not 


1 6     A  Convention  SERMON. 

not  confidering  the   Difference  between   the  State  of 
Things  now,  and  when  the  Gofpel  was  frft  made  pib- 
lick.     It  was  neceflfary  the  Chnftian  Revelation*  fhould 
be  approved  of  GOD,  by  Signs,  and  Wonders,  and  Mi- 
racles, done  in  the  midft  of  tbe  People ;  and  that  it  Ihould 
alfo  be  infallibly  delivered  to  the  World,  as  the  ftand- 
ing  Rule  of  Men's  Faith  and  Practice,  which,  it  coitld 
not  have  been,  if  holy  Men  had  not  fpoken,  and  wrote 
it,  as  mov'd  and   infpired   by  the   HOLY   GHOST    ; 
Whereas,  there  is  no  Need  of  the  like  extraordinary  In- 
fluence of  the  Divine  SPIRIT,  now  that  Chriftianity  has 
received  its  Confirmation   and   been  eftablifht,  in  the 
World,  as  a  Religion  coming  from  GOD.     Accord- 
ingly, theWay  of  becoming  qualified  to  beMinifters  of 
this  Religion  is,  not  by  any  miraculous  Interpofition  of 
Heaven, but  by  Attendance  to  Reading,  Meditation  and 
Prayer.  In  this  Way,  we  may  hope,  thro*  the  Blefling 
of  GOD,  to   be  furnifht  with   all  futable   minifterial 
Gifts  :  But  if,  inftead  of  Labour  and  Pains,  in  the  Ule 
of  ordinary  Means,  we  expect  the  Defcent  of  the  HOLY 
GHOST  in  Tongues  ef  Fire,  or  depend  on  extraordinary 
Revelations,  or  immediate  Imprejfions,  we  mall  only  ren- 
der our  felves  meet  Objects  of  Contempt.     Who  have 
all  along  been  the  ableft  Defenders  of  Chriftianity  ? 
Who  have  fet  its  Doctrines  in  the  cleared  and  moft 
confident  Light  ?      Who  have  explained  and  urg'd  its 
Precepts,  m  the  moft  inftructive  and  convincing  Man- 
ner ?     Who  have  been  the  grand  Supporters  of  its 
Worfhip  and  Order  ?   Can  this  Honour  be  claimed  by 
your  Pretenders  to  immediate  Revelations,  and  extraor- 
dinary Influences  from  above  ?     Muft  it  not  rather   be 
given  to  thofe,  who,by  hard  Study,  and  a  confiderable 
Stay  at  the  School  of  the  Prophets,  have,  through:  a 
Divine  Rlefling  on  their  Endeavours,  got  their  Minds 
furnifht  with  defirable   Meafures  of  Knowledge  and 
good  Underftanding  ?    There  is  no  Room  for  Debate 
on  the  Matter.     No  Man,  fmce  the  Days  of  the  Apo- 
ftles,  was  ever  futably  qualified  for  the  Miniftry,  but 'in 

the 


A  Convention  SERMON.      1 7 

the  Way  of  Labour  and  Pains,  in  an  Attendance  on 
the  ordinary  Means  of  Inftruftion  :  And  thofe  who 
have  left  this  Way  of  GOD's  Appointing,  in  Expecta- 
tion  of  extraordinary  Supplies  from  the  SPIRIT,  have 
too  commonly,  fooner  or  later,  run  wild,  to  the  expo- 
fing,  not  only  themfelves,  but  the  whole  Miniftry,  yea, 
Religion  it  felf,  to  Contempt. 

But  pofilbly,  it  will  be  further  urged,  does  not  GOD 
fometimes  take  Occafion,  from  the  Labours  of  Men  of 
finall  Parts,  and  little  Learning,  to  ferve  the  Ends  of 
his  own  Kingdom  ?  And  if  GOD  approves  of  Per- 
ibns  of  fuch  a  Chara£ter,  why  mould  not  we  ?  The 
Anfwer  whereto  is  eafy.  A  Diftindion  ought  always 
to  be  made  between  GOD's  Approbation  of  a  Thing, 
and  his  taking  Occafion  from  it  to  do  Good  :  Nor  can 
the  former  be  at  all  collected  from  the  latter.  'Tis 
readily  allow'd,  the  alwife  merciful  GOD  may  over-rule 
the  Miniftrations  of  weak  ignorant  Men  for  fpirituai 
Advantage  to  Souls  •,  but  it  cannot  be  argued  from 
hence,  that  he  looks  upon  fuch  Perfons  as  fit  to  be  in- 
truded with  the  facred  Miniftry.  In  Order  to  know 
his  Mind  in  this  Matter,  the  great  Queftion  ought  to 
be^  what  are  the  Qualifications  the  BIBLE,  that  public, 
ftanding^  authentic  Revelation  of  the  Divine  Will, 
makes  neceffary  to  be  found  in  thofe  who  would  be 
Gofpel-Minifters  ?  And  if  it  appears,  that  it  requires* 
Knowledge^  and  confiderabls  Degrees  of  it,  thofe  only  are 
fit  Co  be  put  into  the  Miniftry,  who  are  thus  qualified. 
There  is.,  no  Doubt,  a  Latitude  in  this  Cafe.  A  Man 
may  be  qualified  for  the  Miniftry,  tho'  he  mould  nor 
be  furnifht  with  Knowledge  in  the  higheft  Degrees  : 
But  then,  he  muft  have  Knowledge  in  fab  a  Propor- 
tion as  to  anfwer  the  Scripture  Demands,  or  he  is  certain- 
ly an  unfutable  Perfon  to  be  employed  as  a  Minifter. 

And  this  is  a  Matter  of  greater  Importance  than 
many  may  be  ready  tadmagine.     For  'tis  remarkable, 

C  when 


1 8      A  Convention  SERMON. 

\vhen  GOD  would  reprefent  a  People  as  in.  the  moft 
deplorable  Circumftances,  'tis  in  fuch  Language  as  that, 
Ifa.lvi.  10,1 1.  His  Watchmm  are  blind:  ¥bey  are  all  ig~ 
nor  ant  ;  they  are  dumb  Dogs,  they  cannot  bark.  —  ¥hey 
are  Shepherds  that  cannot  underftand.  On  the  contrary, 
when  he  is  returning  to  a  backfliding  People,  in  a  Way 
of  Mercy,  and  would  beftow  the  richeft  Bleflings  on 
them,  that  is  mentioned  as  one  of  the  greateft,  Jer. 
iii.  15.  /  will  give  them  Paftors  according  to  mine  own 
Heart^  which  Jhall  feed  them  with  Knowledge  and  Under- 
flanding.  And  again,  Chap,  xxiii.  4.  Iwillfet  up  Shep- 
herds over  them,  which  Jhall  feed  them. 

2.  Minifters,  if  they  would  not  be  defpifed,  muft 
riot  fet  a  bad  Example.  The  Defign  of  their  Office  is 
to  difengage  Men  from  their  Vices,  and  perfwade  them 
to  a  fober,  righteous  and  godly  Life,  in  Conformity  to 
the  Precepts  of  the  Gofpel.  And  mall  they,  whofe 
profeflfed  Bufmefs  it  is,  to  turn  Men  from  the  Power  of 
Sin  and  Satan,  be  the  Servants  of  Unrighteoufnefs  ? 
How  unfeemly  is  this  ?  Thou  that  fayeft,  a  Man  fhould 
not  commit  this,  or  the  other  evil  Deed,  dofl  thou  do 
the  fame  thy  felf  ?  Thou  that  magnifieft  the  Law  in 
thy  preaching,  doft  thou  in  thy  Practice  difhonour 
GOD  by  breaking  it  ?  How  fhocking  is  fuch  a  Con- 
duct ?  And  what  but  Contempt  can  be  the  Effect  ? 
'Tis  obfervable,  when  the  Jewijh  Priefts^  in  theDays  of 
Malachi,  departed  from  the  Way  of  the  LORD,  and 
corrupted  his  Covenant,  The  LORD  of  Hofts  faid  unto 
them?  Therefore  have  I  made  you  CONTEMPTIBLE,  and 
BASE  before  all  the  People.  And  the  like  may  be  ex- 
pected by  all  Minifters,  who  behave  after  the  fame  ill 
Manner.  'Twould  be  juft  in  GOD  to  give  them  up 
to  Contempt  :  Nor  if  they  were  bafe  in  the  Eyes  of 
the  People,  would  it  be  beyond  their  Defert.  A  vici- 
ous Man,  and  yet  a  Preacher  of  Rightcoufnefi,  how 
grofs  the  Inconfiflency  !  A  Man  of  GOD,  and  yet 
vain,  or  proud,  or  covetous,  or  intemperate,  or  idle 

and 


A  Convention  SERMON.      19 

and  unfaithful,  how  palpable  the  Abfurdity  !  There  is 
not,  on  the  Earth,  a  more  meet  Object  of  Reproach. 
He  has  forfeited  all  Right  to  the  good  Opinion  of 
Men  ;  and  Ihould  he  claim  their  Reverence,  in  Virtue 
of  his  Office,  he  would  only  render  himfelf  Hill  more 
contemptible. 

Nor  may  it  be  thought,  that  fuch  an  one  would  be 
likely  to  do  much  good.  Who  would  believe,  or  re- 
gard, what  he  faid  ?  He  would  rather  harden  Men  in 
Sin,  than  recover  them  from  it.  He  would  rather 
make  them  fufpicious  of  the  Truth  of  Religion,  than 
concerned  to  become  the  Subjects  of  it.  There  are,  in 
one  Word,  no  fuch  effectual  Hinderers  of  the  Gofpel, 
and  Obftacles  in  the  Way  of  its  Succefs,  as  wicked 
Minifters  :  And  the  greater  the  Contempt  they  meet 
with,  the  better. 

Only  let  it  be  remembred,  thofe  only  ought  to  be 
efteemed  wicked  Minifters,  who  vifibly  appear  to  be 
fo.  If  there  is  an  agreeable  Harmony  between  the 
Manner  of  their  Life  and  Profeffion^  they  ought  not 
to  be  loaded  with  bad  Names,  and  treated  with  the 
Contempt  due  to  abandoned  Sinners.  This,  it  may 
be  feared,  has  been  too  common  a  Practice  in  thefe 
Times  ;  but  it's  being  a  common  Practice  won't  make 
it  a  Chriftian  one.  We  ought  not  to  look  into  the 
Hearts  of  Minifters  infteadof  their  Lives,  and  judge 
them  to  be  Pharifaical  and  unconverted^  from  a  pre- 
tended Knowledge  of  their  inward  Principles  and  Springs 
of  Action.  This  is  to  affume  to  our  felves  the  Prero- 
gative of  GOD,  who  only  has  an  Infpedtion  into  hu- 
mane Hearts,  and  allows  us  to  judge  of  one  another  only 
From  what  is  outward  and  vijible.  By  tbeir  Fruits  jballyc 
know  them.  This  is  the  Rule  out  SAVIOUR  has  given 
us  ;  and  'tis  a  Rule  particularly  refering  to  the  Cafe 
of  Minifters3  and  the  only  one  by  which  we  may 

C  2  form 


A  Convention  SERMON. 

form  a  Judgment  of  their  Chara&er.  'Tis  true,  they 
may  not  be  the  Men  inwardly.^  they  appear  to  be  out- 
wardly •,  but  this  is  none  of  pur  Bufmefs.  The  De- 
termination of  Men's  State,  does  not  belong  to  us,  but 
to  JESUS  CHRIST,  who,  when  he  comes  in  the  Glory 
of  his  Father,  will  bring  to  Light  the  hidden  Things 
of  Darknefs,  and  manifeft  the  Counfels  of  all  Hearts. 

I  may  add  to  what  has  been  faid,  Minifters,  if  they 
would  command  Refpect,  muft  be  Men  of  exemplary 
Holinefs.  They  muft  not  think  it  enough,  if  they  keep 
£t  a  Diftance  from  every  Thing  mean  and  bafe  ;  if 
they  abflain  from  all  grofs  and  notorious  Crimes  :  But 
they  mould  exprefs  a  Care  to  mew  put  of  a  good 
Converfarion  their  Works  with  Meeknefs  of  Wifdorq. 
It  fhouJd  not  content  them,  that  they  are  blamelefs  as 
the  Stewards  of  GOD,  not  felf- willed,  not  foon  angry, 
not  given  to  Wine,  not  given  to  filthy  Lucre  ;  but 
vhey  fliould  be  Lovers  of  Hofpitality,  Lovers  of  good 
Men,  fober,  juft,  holy,  temperate  :  In  all  Things 
ihewing  themfelves  Pattern^  of  good  Works,  and  Ex- 
^mples  of  the  Believers,  in  Word,  in  Converfation,  in 
Charity,  in  Spirit,  in  Faith,  in  Purity.  This  was  the 
Direction  PAUL  gave  TIMOTHY,  as  that  which 
would  not  only  fet  him  above  Contempt,  but  procure 
for  him  all  futable  Reflect ;  Nor  could  he  have  advi- 
fed  to  a  more  effectual  Expedient  to  beautify  his  Cha- 
radler,  and  fecure  a  good  Reputation.  There  is  a 
ftrange  Power  in  exemplary  Virtue  to  command  Rever- 
ence. It  will,  beyond  the  fineft  Accomplifhments  of 
Learning,  or  the  greateft  Eloquence  in  Preaching,  ren- 
der the  Minifler  amiable  in  the  Eyes  of  People  ;  they 
can't  but  love  and  honour  him  ;  yea,  even  profane  Sin- 
ners, if  not  given  up  to  a  reprobate  Mind,  will  treat 
him  with  a  decent  Efteem,  while  they  behold  his  good 
Converfation  in  CHRIST.  And  this  alib  will  give  a 
fmgular  Energy  to  his  Preaching.  A  bad  Life  will 
turn  the  Edge  of  the  keeneft  Difcourfes,  delivered  from 

the 


A  Convention  SERMON.     2,1 

the  Pulpit ;  but  when  die  Minifter  exhibits,  in  his  Be- 
Jiaviour,  a  Pattern  of  what  he  preaches,  his  Doctrine 
will  be  likely  to  flrike  the  Mind  with  a  divine  Force, 
and  ^nfwer  the  faving  Ends  to  which  it  is  defigned. 

3.  Minifters,  if  they  would  not  be  defpifed,  rnuft 
not  expofe  themfelves  by  an  undue  Performance  of 
the  -public  Offices  of  their  Station.  'Tis  juftly  expect- 
ed they  fhould  manage  thefe  with  a.  becoming  Dexteri^ 
ty  i  for  they  profefs  to  have  Ability  to  do  fo.  And 
if  they  are  Blunderers  wherein  they  pretend  to  be  Maf- 
ftrs,  how  ihould  it  be  but  that  they  mould  fink  in  the 
Efleem  of  Mankind  ?  'Tis  thus  in  all  other  Profefli- 
ons  :  Nor  will  the  Sacrednefs  of  the  miniilerial  Cha- 
racter prevent  its  being  fo  here.  Minifters  may  want 
the  Art  of  managing  in  the  common  Bufmefles  of  Life, 
and  not  be  thought  the  worfe  of  -,  becaufe  they  pre- 
tend to  no  Skill  in  Affairs  of  fuch  a  Nature :  But 
they  do  pretend  to  have  Skill  in  managing  the 
public  Offices  of  Religion.  Praying,  and  Preaching, 
and  over- feeing  the  Affairs  of  GOD's  Houfe,  are  the 
proper  Duties  of  their  Calling  -,  and  if  they  are  really 
wanting  in  a  Faculty  decently  to  perform  thefe  Duties, 
their  Character  muft  run  low  in  the  Opinion  of  all  fu- 
table  Judges.  But  to  be  diftinct  here. 

(i.)  Minifters  mould  take  Care  to  manage  their  pub- 
lic Prayers  fo  as  not  to  expofe  themfelves  to  Contempt. 
It  is  not  indeed  to  be  expected,  they  fhould  all  be  able, 
in  the  like  eafy,  natural,  flowing  Language,  to  lead  in 
theAddrefles  of  a  Congregation  to  the  Divine  Majefty. 
Some,  it  has  pleafed  GOD  to  furnifh  with  the  Gift  of 
Prayer,  to  an  eminent  Degree.  They  never  Ihine 
brighter,  than  when  they  are  called,  and  it  may  be  o;i 
a  fudden,  to  reprefent  fome  fpecial  Cafe  before  the 
Throne  of  Mercy.  Their  Mouths  are  ffljd  with 
Arguments,  and  they  can  utter  themfelves  to 
the  Ravifhrnent  of  the  devout  praying  Afiem- 

bly. 


A  Convention  SERMON. 

bly.  But  though  all  are  not  alike  gifted  ;  yet  all, 
methinks,  fhould  be  able  to  go  out  of  the  common 
Road,  as  Occafion  may  call  for  it,  without  rambling, 
or  ftammering,  or  running  into  Tautologies.  If  any  are 
wanting  in  fuch  an  Ability,  it  may  be  fear'd,  whether 
they  have  taken  that  Pains,  in  thetlfe  of  Means,  which 
is  proper,  in  Order  to  their  attaining  the  Gift  of  Pray- 
er. Or,  if  it  fhould  be  the  Cafe  of  fome,  that  they 
are  born  down  with  Over-modefty  of  Temper,  or 
poflefs  not  the  Faculty  of  conceiving  quick  enough  for 
a  ready  Utterance,  they  might  do  better  to  pray  by 
fome  well-compos'd  Form,  than  to  run  the  Hazard  of 

falling  into  Contempt  by  difguftful  Hefitations. 

•t'  i "  /' 

Nor  is  it  enough  that  Minifters  pray  well  as  to  Mat- 
ter :  They  fhould  take  Heed  to  the  Manner  alfo,  that 
it  be  with  Serioufnefs,  in  Oppofition  to  all  Levity  and 
Airinefs  of  Temper  ;  with  an  apparent  Awe  and  So- 
lemnity of  Spirit,  and  with  fuch  an  awakened  Fervour 
and  Devotion,  as  fhall  make  it  evident,  they  realife  the 
Worth,  efpecially  of  thofc  fpiritual  and  eternalBleflings, 
which  they  afk  at  the  Hands  of  the  great  and  good 
GOD. 


I  fhall  add  here,  they  fhould  be  particularly  careful 
not  to  mingle  their  own  Paffions  and  Prejudices  with 
their  Prayers  :  Nor  fhould  they  oblige  a  whole  AfTem- 
bly  to  be  of  their  Mind,  in  Matters  of  doubtful  Dif- 
putation,  or  elfe  come  to  an  undefired  Paufe  in  their 
Devotion.  Minifters,  when  praying  in  publick,  are 
to  be  confidered  as  the  Mouth  of  the  Congregation  ; 
and  as  fuch,  there  is  a  manifeft  Impropriety  in  their 
going  into  the  Ufe  of  fueh  Petitions,  orThankfgivmgs, 
as  a  great  Part  of  the  Congregation  can't,  in  Faith, 
join  with  them  in  offering  up  to  GOD.  I  the  Mther 
mention  this,  becaufe  it  may  have  been  too  "much  a 
Practice,  among  fome  Minifters,  more  eipecially  in 
the  late  Times,  to  exprefe  themfelves  in  Language, 

they 


7  ~  •» 


A  Convention  SERMON.      2,3 

they  could  not  but  know,  if  they  allowed  themfelves 

to  think,  a  considerable  Number  of  thofe  they  were 

praying  with  could  not  give  their  hearty  Amen  to. 

What  others  may  think  I  know  not ;  but  to  me,  it 

appears  a  Matter  of  no  fmall  Importance,  that  there  be 

an  Agreement  between  thofe  who  pray,  refpe&ing  the 

Things  they  pray  for.     And  our  SAVIOUR    himfelf 

feemstohave  taught  as  much,  in  that  Declaration  of 

his,   Matth.  xviii.  19-  I  fay  unto  you,  that  if  any  two 

of  you  Jhall  agree  on  Earth >,  as  touching  any  Thing  that 

they  Jhall  ajk9  it  Jhall  be  done  for  them  of  my  Father  which 

is  in  Heaven.     And  it  is  as  futable  an  Affembly  of  wor- 

Jhifping  Chriftians  ihould  be  agreed,  refpe&ing  what 

they  afk  of  GOD  in  Prayer,  as  that  two  private  Per- 

fens  fhould  :    Nor  otherwise  may  they  encourage  a 

hope,  that  it  mall  be  done  for  them  according  to  what 

they  defire.     And  if  this  was  more  thoroughly  confi- 

dered,  it  might  put  Minifters  upon  greater  Care,  fo  to 

adapt  their  Prayers,  as  that  all  might  harmonife  in 

fending  them  up  to  the  Throne  of  Mercy. 

(2.)  Minifters  fhould  take  care  that  their  Preaching 
be  fuch  as  may  give  no  Occafion  of  Contempt. 
And  here  fuffer  me,  with  an  honeft  Freedom  and  Sim- 
plicity, to  mention  fbme  of  the  many  Things  which 
call  for  the  Care  of  Minifters,  if  they  would  not  be  de- 
fpifed. 

And  to  be  fure,they  Ihould  not  in  their  Preaching  in- 
vade the  Province  of  others.  Their  Work  does  not  lie  at 
large,  but  is  reftrained  within  proper  Bounds.  They  are 
Paftors  to  particularFlocksiThefeare  their  fpecialCharge; 
they  have  taken  the  Overfight  of  them,  and  ihould 
employ  themfelves  in  feeding  them  with  Knowledge 
and  Underftanding.  Not  that  they  are  fo  confin'd, 
that  they  may  not  preach  but  to  their  own  People. 
This  they  may  do  ;  but  it  fhould  always  be  within  the 
Rules  of  Order.  They  fliould  not  go  into  other  Pa- 
rimes 


24     <A  Convention  SERMON, 

riflies  to  keep  up  an  unreafonable  Difaffeftion  in  Peo- 
ple to  their  own  Minifters  :  Neither  fhould  they  pre- 
fome  to  preach  there,  trufting  in  themfelves  that  they 
are  righteous,  but  harbouring  in  their  Breafts  unchari- 
table Sufpicions  of  their  Brethren,  as  carnal  and  un- 
convertei 

•;'*-    ;.r;  •'-'  H'^'Vjl 

It  may  look  like  Zeal  for  CHRIST,  and  a  vehement 
Delire  to  do  good  to  Souls^  for  Minifters  to  go  about 
from  Parifh  to  Parifh,  fpending  themfelves  and  being 
fpent,  through  their  abundant  Labours  :  And  they 
may  be  carefTed  on  this  Account  by  many  Perfons,  as 
having  more  of  the  Spirit  of  CHRIST  and  his  Apoftles 
than  their  Brethren.  But  whatever  Charity  may  be 
difpofed  to  hope,  GOD  only  knows  the  true  Spring  of 
fiich  a  Conduct.  It  may,  poflibly,  be  Pride  and  Self- 
Conceit,  or  a  vain  Itch  to  be  admired  and  applauded  : 
And  among  all  who  afcribe  it  to  fuch  a  Caufe, 
(  as  there  are  many  that  will  )  they  will  be  contemned. 
But  be  the  Motive  what  it  will,  ever  fo  Chriftian,  or 
Noble,  the  Practice,  I  believe,  is  bad  ;  as  tending,  in 
the  natural  Courfe  of  Things,  to  introduce  Confufion 
and  Diforder  :  Nor  has  it  ever  yet  fail'd  of  finking 
the  Credit  of  the  Minifhy,  in  a  lefs  or  greater  Degree. 


^ 

But  after  all,  if  any  are  fond  of  going  about  from 
Place  to  Place,  thinking  they  mall  hereby  have  Op- 
portunity of  doing  GOD  good  Service  ;  why  won't 
they  go  where  they  will  invade  no  Man's  Right,  nor 
Occafion  Schifms  and  Separations.  Are  there  not  thofer 
even  in  .this  Province,  and  among  the  EngHfh  too, 
(to  our  Shame  be  it  fpoken)  who  are  deftitute  of  the 
Gofpel,  in  the  Miniftry  of  it  ?  And  are  there  not  vaft 
Numbers,  in  the  neighbouring  Governments  of  VIR- 
GINIA and  NORTH-CAROLINA  (not  to  fay  any  Thing 
of  the  Natives)  who  live  almoft  in  heatheniih  Dark- 
nefs  ?  And  would  it  not  difcover  as  much  Love  to 
Souls,  and  as  difmterefted  Zeal  to  ferve  the  Redeemer's 

Kingdom, 


A  Convention  SERMON,      25 

Kingdom,  for  Minifters  to  travel  up  and  down,  preach- 
ing, the  Gofpel  to  thefe  People,  as  to  go  about  from 
Place  to  Place,where  the  Gofpel  is  preached  every  Sab- 
bath-Day, and  by  Perfons  cali'd  to  the  Work,  qualifi- 
ed for  it,  and  fixed  in  it  ?  There  is  Room  for  itinera- 
ting :  And  the  more  abundant  any  are  in  it,  the  great- 
er will  be  their  Glory  :  Nor  will  any  one  be  difpos'd 
to  withhold  from  them  the  Praife  that  is  their  jiift 
Due. 

Minifters  alfo  mould  take  Care*  that  their  Preaching 
may  favour  of  Pains  and  Induftry.  Not  that  they 
may'nt  preach,  if  they  han't  had  Time  to  labour  a 
Difcourfe.  NecefTary  Avocations,  or  the  Suddennefs 
of  a  Call  to  fpeak,  may  juftify  their  going  into  the 
Pulpit,  when  their  Preparations  have  been  more  hafty 
than  they  would  have  chofen  :  And,  at  fuch  Times,  a 
tolerable  Meafure  of  Candour  in  Hearers  would  make 
the  Allowances  that  may  reafonably  be  expeded.  But, 
ordinarily?  their  Sermons  fhould  appear  to  be  the  Fruic 
of  Labour  and  Study.  The  wife  Man  fays,  The  Preach- 
er fought  to  find  out  acceptable  Words.  He  is  fpeaking 
of  himfelf,  who,  though  he  excelled  all  Men  in  Un- 
derftanding,  yet  did  not  turn  People  off  with  any 
Thing  that  came  next  to  Hand  ;  but  took  Pains  to 
exprefs  himfelf  in  agreeable  Language.  And  he  is 
herein  to  be  imitated  by  all  Preachers.  Not  that  fine 
Turns  of  Wit,  high  rhetorical  Flights,  calculated  chief-* 
ly  to  entertain  the  Fancy,  need  be  any  Part  of  their 
Care  ;  but  yet,  they  fhould  endeavour  to  cloath  their 
Difcourfes  in  a  becoming  Drefs.  Their  Language 
fhould  be  far  from  low  and  vulgar,  yet  eafy  and  natu- 
ral :  Their  Words  fitly  fpoken,  and  fuch  as  may  bd 
likely  to  pleafe  Men  to  their  Edification.  And  they 
fliould  the  rather  be  concern'd  about  this,as  wifely  cho- 
fen Words,  according  to  what  follows  in  the  next 
Verfe,  are  as  Goads  and  Nails  faftened  by  the  Mafters  of 
"ties.  i.  e,  '<  There  is  the  like  Power  in  them  to 
I)  excise 


2,6     A  Convention  SERMON. 

excite  and  ftir  up  the  Minds  of  flothful  Men  to  the 
]?raftice  of  Virtue,  that  there  is  in  a  Goad  to  prick  the 
Ox  forward  t  Nor  do  they  only  fling  and  move  the 
Mind  for  the  prefent  •,  but  are  apt  to  flick  as  faft 
in  the  Memory  as  Nails  do,  when  they  are  driven  into 
a  Board." 

Nor  ought  Miniflers  to  think  it  enoiigh,  if  they 
are  careful  about  the  Language  of  their  Sermons  ;  but 
the  Matter  and  Method  alfo  fhould  be  the  Effed  of  Me- 
ditation and  Study.  Their  Bufmefs  is,  rightly  to  divide 
the  Word  of  Truth.  'Tis  the  WM  of  GOD,  and  not 
the  Traditions  or  Commandments  of  Men  ;  'tis  the  Faith 
once  delivered  to  the  Saints,  and  not  Leflures  of  meer 
Reafon,  they  fhould  bring  their  People.  The  Matter 
of  their  Preaching  fhould  be  the  pure  Gofpel  of  CHRIST. 
And  they  mould  rigbtly  divide  it.  i.e.  They  fhould  dif- 
pofe  it  in  due  Order  ;  giving  its  Truths  their  proper 
Place  and  diftributing  them  to  the  proper  Perfbns. 
And  this  they  fhoi  Id  do  like  Men  of  Skill  ;  and  in  or- 
der to  it,  fhould  apply  themfelves  to  their  Work  with 
Care  and  Diligence.  So  Paul  advifed  Timothy  ;  call- 
ing upon  him  to  ftudy,  if  he  would  approve  himfelf  to 
GOD  a  Workman  that  needed  not  to  be  ajhamed.  And 
he  elfewhere  recommends  to  him  Reading  and  Medita- 
tion,  that  bis  profiting  might  appear  to  all  Men.  And 
if  fuch  an  extraordinary  Perfon  as  Timothy  was  obliged 
to  the  Ufe  of  Pains  and  Study,  much  more  is  this  a 
Duty  in  the  ordinary  Officers  of  the  Church. 

Not  thaj/a  Minifter,  if  he  has  tolerable  Qualificati- 
ons for  Ms  Work,  need  be  at  much  Pains  to  make 
Sermons  that  will  pleafe  fome  fort  of  Hearers.  But  e- 
ven  thefe  Hearers  ought  to  be  edified 'as  well  as  pleas'd. 
And  though  through  want  of  Judgment,  they  may'nt 
be  able  to  diftinguim  between  an  extempore  Difcourfe, 
and  one  that  has  coft  the  Preacher  a  great  Deal  of  hard 
Stody  ^  yet  the  latter*  if  as  it  ought  to  be,wiU  be  much 

better 


A  Convention  SERMON.     2,7 

better  adapted  to  promote  their  fpiritual  Profit  •,  and 
there  is  more  Reafon  to  expect  a  divine  Blefiing  will 
accompany  it  to  this  End.  Befides,  a  proper  Refpect 
ought  to  be  paid  to  all  Hearers  ;  to  \hzftrong  as  well 
as  the  weak,  to  the  knowing  as  well  as  the  ignorant : 
And  this  there  may  be,  where  futable  Care  has  been 
taken  to  prepare  what  is  to  be  delivered  in  public  ; 
for  it  may  be  accommodated  to  the  Capacity  of  thofe 
who  are  illiterate,  and  yet:  fo  contrived  as  to  fall  in 
with  the  Relifh  of  the  more  intelligent  :  Whereas,  if 
it  is  crude  and  indigefted,  though  it  may  not  be  di£ 
lik'd  by  the  weak  and  injudicious,  it  will  be  .deipis'd  by 
thofe  of  better  Underftanding. 

It  will,  perhaps,  be  faid,  thofe  Minifters  whp  take 
little  or  no  Thought  before-hand  what  they  fhall  fay, 
are  the  Men  who  depend  on  the  SPIRIT  of  GOD  $ 
and  the  Help  they  obtain  from  him  more  than  makes 
up  for  the  Want  of  Preparation  by  Study.  None,  I 
would  hope,  will  efleem  Preparation  by  Study  an  Ar- 
gument of  the  Want  of  a  juft  Dependance  on  the 
SPIRIT  ;  for  fo  far  is  this  from  the  Truth'of  the  Cafe, 
that  they  who  are  moft  careful  to  make  futable  Prepa- 
ration, take  the  Method  in  which  they  may  moft  rea- 
fonably  expect  the  divine  Influences  ;  and  they  are  the 
moft  likely  Perfons  to  be  favoured  with  them  :  Where-. 
as,  it  may  be  fear'd,  thofe,  who  venture  into  the  Pul- 
pit without  Fore-thought,  prefume  upon  the  SPIRIT 
rather  than  truft  in  him  -,  and  stis  top  often  apparent, 
that  they  receive  no  great  Help  from  him.  For  who 
more  confus'd,  many  Times,  in  their  Difcourfes  * 
Who  more  rafh  and  unguarded  in  their  ExprefTions  ? 
Who  more  vain  and  arrogant  in  their Boaftings  ?  Who 
more  wild  in  their  Imaginations  ?•  And,  in  a  Word> 
who  deliver  the  Truths  of  the  Gofpel  with  a  greater 
Mixture  of  Miftake  and  Error  ?  And  fhall  it  be  pre-. 
tended,  that  fuch  Preaching  is  the  Effect  of  extraordi- 
nary Communications  from  the  SPIRIT  ?  *Tis  a 
D.  2 


28     A  Convention  SERMON. 

Reflection  on  the  blefled  SPIRIT  of  GOD  to  fuppofe 
fuch  a  Thing. 

It  may  take  with  fome  People  to  be  told  by  Mini- 
fters,  they  knew  not  the  Text  they  fhould  preach  from, 
till  they  came  into  the  Pulpit  ;  and  they  may  be  ready 
to  think  the  Men  infpir'd  ;  efpecially,  if  they  are  able 
to  deliver  themfelves  with  Freedom  and  Zeal.  But 
People  ought  to  know,  there  may  be  great  Warmth 
and  Volubility  in  Speech,  without  any  extraordinary 
Help  from  the  SPIRIT.  And  the  plain  Truth  is,  the 
SPIRIT  of  GOD  does  not  affift  Minifters  now,  as  in 
the  firft  Days  of  the  Gofpel.  He  did  it  then  by  im- 
mediate Revelation  •,  he  does  it  now  in  a  Way  more 
humane,  by  his  Blefllng  on  their  Studies.  And  while 
Minifters ,  in  this  Way,  depend  on  his  Help,  they  may 
humbly  hope  to  obtain  it  :  Whereas  they  will  de- 
ceive themfelves,,  and  impofe  on  People,  if  they  go  a- 
bout  to  excufe  their  Neglects  in  the  Ufe  of  ordinary 
Means,  pretending  to  extraordinary  Communications 
from  aboye. 

Minifters  likewife  fhould  preach  as  thofe  who  are  in 
earneft.  The  Bufinefs  they  are  engaged  in  is  the  moft 
folemn  that  can  be.  They  have  to  do  with  Souls,  one 
of  which  is  of  more  worth  than  the  whole  World  : 
And  'tis  their  Salvation  or  Damnation  they  are  to  treat 
with  them  upon.  And  fhall  they  be  cold  and  lifelefs  in 
an  Affair  of  fuch  infinite  Importance  ?  Matters  of  ever- 
lafting  Life  and  Death  fhould  not  be  fpoken  of,  in  ordi- 
nary Difcourfe,  but  with  a  becoming  Sollicitude  : 
Much  more,  when  Minifters  befpeak  Men  in  the  Name 
of  GOD,  upon  the  Concerns  of  Heaven  and  HelJ, 
fhould  they  do  it  with  all  Solemnity  of  Spirit.  And 
if,  when  they  are  talking  upon  thefe  aftoniming  Truths,, 
they  fpeak  as  if  they  were  afleep,  or  had  not  upon  their 
Minds  a  ferious  Senfe  of  their  awful  Weight  and  Reali- 
ty, how  can  it  be  that  they  fhould  affect  the  Hearts  of 

their 


Convention  SERMON.     29 

'  their  Hearers  ?  They  will  rather  be  difpofed  to  flight 
both  them  and  what  they  fay  ?  Tho',  that  they  might 
not  do  this  injurioufly,  they  fliould  be  very  careful 
they  don't  run  into  Miftakes,  taking  that  for  Dulnefs  in 
fome?  and  an  awakened  Fervour  in  others,  which  may 
be  no  certain  Indication  of  either.  The  Tempers  of 
Minifters  are  very  different,  and  fo  are  their  Organs  of 
Speech  ;  infomuch,,  that  if  they  had  all  the  fame  Con- 
cern about  fpiritual  and  divine  Things,  they  would  not 
be  alike  in  the  Manner  of  its  Difcovery.  And  it  ought 
to  be  particularly  notic'd,  meer  Loudnefs  of  Voice 
is  no  Sign  at  all  of  a  futable  Frame  of  Mind.  There 
may  be  thtftillfmall  Foice,and  the  Heart,  at  the  fame 
Time,  ferioufly  and  thorowly  warm?d  with  a  Senfe  of 
eternal  Things  •,  as  on  the  other  Hand,  there  may  be  a 
noijy  boifterous  Fervency r,  that  is  only  biftrionical  and  af- 
fected :  And  it  very  ill  becomes  the  Mkiifter,  and  tends 
rather  to  harden  Sinners  than  do  them  any  fpiritualGood. 
.There  is  very  little  therefore  to  be  collected  meerly  from 
the  Voice  of  the  Preacher.  The  Manner  is  rnore  to 
be  regarded  :  And  if  he  really  feels  what  he  fays,  be 
his  Voice  great  or  fmall,  it  will  ordinarily  be  perceived 
by  difcerning  Hearers.  And  he  fhould  always  endea- 
vour to  fpeak,  not  as  tho*  it  were  a  Tafk,and  he  cared 
not  what  he  faid  ;  but  as  haying  upon  his  Mind  an  a- 
wakened  Senfe  of  the  Worth  of  Souls,  and  the  Weight 
of  everlafling  Concerns. 

Further,  Minifters,  in  their  Preaching,  fhould  apply 
to  the  Under/landings  of  their  Hearers,  and  not  lay  out 
all  their  Endeavours  to  work  on  their  Paffions.  Not 
that  'tis  improper  to  fpeak  to  the  Affeftions  ;  for  they 
have  their  Ufe  in  Religion,  and  it  may  ferve  a  great 
many  good  Purpofes  to  excite  and  warm  them.  But 
then,  it  ought  to  be  remembred,  the  Under/landing  is 
the  leading  Power  in  Man,  and  ought,  as  fuch,  in  the 
firft  Place,  to  be  applied  to.  To  be  fure,  the  Under- 
flanding  ought  not  to  be  neglected.  Light  and  Heat 

ihould 


3o      A  Convention  SERMON. 

fhould  always  go  together,  and  keep  Pace  with  each 
other  :  Nor  unlefs  there  is  a  due  Proportion  of  the 
former,  will  it  turn  to  any  good  Account,  if  there  be 
ever  fo  much  of  the  latter  :  Nay,  Heat  in  the  Affecti- 
ons, without  Light  in  the  Mind,  will  ferve  rather  to 
make  Men  wild,  than  religious  ;  as  has  been  too  often 
verified  by  fad  Experience.  Whenever  the  Paffions 
therefore  are  addreft  to,  a  good  Foundation  ought  to 
be  firft  laid  in  the.  Underftanding  ;  Or  otherwife,  the 
Difcourfe  Ihould  be  manag'd  fo  as  to  inform  theMind, 
at  the  fame  Time  it  kindles  the  Affections.  And 
BOW  the  Preaching  is  futed  to  work,  in  a  regular  Man- 
ner, upon  the  Powers  of  humane  Nature  ;  and  if  the 
Effect  is  not  the  fpiritual  Edification  of  Hearers,  they 
can  reafonably  reflect  the  Blame  no  where  but  on  them- 
felves. 

A  rambling  incoherent  Difcourfe,  delivered  in  terri- 
ble Language,  and  with  great  Vehemence  of  Voice 
and  Action,  will  have,  I  am  fenfible,  a  more  powerful 
Tendency  to  difturb  the  Paffions,  efpecially  of  fome 
People.  But  where  is  the  Advantage  of  throwing  the 
Paflions  into  a  Tumult  ?  Of  what  Service  can  it  be 
to  raife  them  to  fuch  aHeight>as  that  the  due  Exercife 
of  the  reafonable  Nature  lhall  be  obftructed  ?  'Tis  true, 
Men  may,  in  this  State,  appear  to  be  religious,  and  this 
to  an  extraordinary  Degree  ;  but  their  Nature  all  the 
while  is  inverted,thofePowers  got  to  be  uppermoft  which 
were  made  to  be  kept  under  Reftraint :  And  while  they 
cdntinue  in  this  Condition,  under  the  Government  of 
their  P^0#.r,mftead  of  their  Under/landings^  they  are  in. 
extreme  Hazard  ;  for  there  is  no  Wildnefs,  whether 
In  Theory  or  Practice,  but  they  are  liable  to  be  driven 
into  it.  The  ftiort  of  the  Matter  is,  as  Men  are  rea- 
fonable Creatures,  they  are  to  be  preached  to  as  fucL 
The  Addrefs  fhould  be  made,  not  fo  much  to  'their 
Paffions  as  to  their  Underftandings  ;  at  leaftr  aU  pro* 
per  Care  fhould  be  taken  to  enlighten  the  Mind,  and 

Convince 


A  Convention  SERMONS     3 1 

convince  the  Judgment,  as  well  as  to  move  the  Affec- 
tipns.  And  if  inftead  of  fpeaking  to  the  Minds  of 
Men,  M inifters  will  lay  out  all  their  Pains  to  work  upon 
their  Paffions^  as  though  herein  lay  the  whole  Value  of 
Religion,  they  will  certainly  expofe  themfelves  to  all, 
who  have  any  tolerable  Acquaintance  with  the  Frame 
of  humane  Nature. 

Moreover,  Minifters  in  their  Preaching  fhould  infift 
upon  the  great  y^importanffruths  of  Religion,and  not 
beftow  their  greateft  Pains  upon  lefs  neceflary  Points  ; 
the  Circumflantials  and  Externals  of  Divine  Worlhip  * 
Much  left  fhould  they  fpend  their  Breath  about  needlefs 
QueftionSj  which  yftimfter  to  Strife,  rather  &&&  godly  Edi- 
fying. Thefe  are  not  the  Thifngs  which  fhould  take  up 
theirThoughts  andLabours,j/inlefs  they  intend  to  bring 
themfelves  into  Contempt.  If  they  would  acquit  them- 
felves,with  Honour,  they  mufl  dwell  upon  thofe  Truths, 
which  have  a  near  and  clofe  Connection  with  the  Sal- 
vation of  Men's  Souls  ;  fuch  as  the  undone  State  of 
Man  by  his  Apofiacy  from  God,  and  the  Method  of 
his  Recovery,as  revealed  in  the  Gofpel.  And  as  'tis  by 
JESUS  CHRIST,  and  him  alone,  that  a  new  and  living 
Way  has  been  open'd  for  the  Entrance  of  Sinners  intd 
the  holy  Place,  HE  fhould  be  the  great  Subject  of  all 
our  Sermons.  Their  main  Scope  fbould  be,  to  unfold 
the  Myftery  which  was  hid  from  Ages  and  Generations, 
but  made  manifeft  inthefe  laftDays,by  the  Incarnation 
of  our  JESUS,  and  the  feveral  Offices  he  has  fuftained 
and  executed,  in  our  Nature,  and  in  Order  to  effect  our 

Salvation. 

* 

I  may  obferve  here,  the  Scripture  ever  takes  notice 
of  three  Things  with  Reference  to  the  Affair  of  Man's 
Redemption.  The  firft  is  the  Grace  of  GOD  ptrpo- 
fing  it.  It's  particular  in  its  Care  to  fix  our  Thoughts; 
on  the  Good- will  and  free  Mercy  of  GOD,  as  the  true, 
original,  eternal  Source  of  this  Bleffing,  Next  to  the 

Grace 


32,     A  Convention  SE  R  MON. 

Grace  of  GOD,  it  gives  ail  due  Honour  to  the  Merits 
of  the  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST.  'Tis  with  a  View  to 
him,  for  his  Sake,  and  on  his  Account,  that  the  Sinner 
is  fpoken  of  as  juftified  and  faved.  Thefe  great  Gof- 
pel  Favours  are  granted  to  him,  not  for  any  Works  of 
Righteoufiiefs  which  he  has  done,  but  in  Confideration 
of  the  mediatorial  Performances  and  Sufferings  of  the 
LORD  JESUS  CHRIST.  This  Righteoufnefs  of  the 
Redeemer  is  confidered  as  the  Ground  and  Reafon,  that 
on  the  Account  of  which  he  is  interefted  in  the  Mer- 
cy of  GOD  to  eternal  Life.  But  befides  the  Grace  of 
GOD,  and  the  Merits  of  CHRIST,  there  is  what  the 
Scripture  calls  a  Meetnefs  for  the  Inheritance,  a  Pre- 
parednefs  in  the  Frame  of  the  Sinner's  Heart  for  the 
heavenly  Glory,  wrought  in  him  by  the  Power  of  the 
HOLY  GHOST.  Arid  without  this,  'tis  as  impofiible  he 
ihould  be  happy  as  that  Light  fhould  have  Communi- 
on with  Darknefs,  or  CHRIST  with  Belial.  He  muft 
be  chang'd  from  a  Servant  of  Sin,  to. a  Servant  of 
Righteoufnefs  -,  he  muft  be  made  to  put  off  the  old 
Man,  and  to  put  on  the  new  Man,  or  he  cannot  inhe- 
rit the  Kingdom  of  GOD. 

And  now,  thefe  are  the  Things  which  friould  com- 
prehend the  Sum  of  our  Preaching  •,  and  the  rather, 
becaufe,  in  their  proper  Place,  they  are  all  neceffary, 
and  equally  neceflary,  in  order  to  Salvation.  Had  it 
not  been  for  the  infinite  Companions  of  the  All-mer- 
ciful GOD,  he  never  would  have  purpofed,  or  accom- 
plimed  our  Redemption.  Had  it  not  been  for  the 
LORD  JESUS  CHRIST,  what  he  did  and  fuffered  in  our 
Nature  and  Stead,  we  fhould  have  had  no  Title  to  Sal- 
vation, no  Righteoufnefs  that  would  have  been  a  fuffi- 
cient  Ground  for  the  Beflowment  of  this  Mercy.  And 
if  we  are  not  transformed  by  the  renewing  of  the  HOLY 
GHOST  ;  if  we  are  not  made  holy  in  the  internal  Frame 
of  our  Minds,  in  Conformity  to  the  Image  and  Will  of 
GOD,  neither  the  Grace  of  GOD,  nor  Merits  of  the 

RE- 


A  Convention  SERMON*      33 

REDEEMER  will  be  of  any  Avail  to  our  Salvation :  For 
while  under  the  Dominion  of  Sin,  and  in  Slavery  to  e- 
til  Paffions  and  corrupt  Inclinations,  we  harbour  Mife- 
ly  in  our  Breads  ;  and  could  we  be  fuppofed,  in  this 
Condition,  to  have  a  Right  to  Heaven,  and  to  go 
there,  we  fhould  really  carry  the  very  $eeds  Of  Hell 
along  with  us  :  Nor  could  we  be  happy,  as  reafonable 
Creatures,  even  in  that  Place  of  BleiTednefs, 

Some,  perhaps,  may  think  it  enough,  if,  in  their 
Preaching,  they  magnify  the  Grace  of  GOD,  and  do 
honour  to  the  Righteoufnefs  of  CHRIST  ;  but  'tis  ne- 
ceflary  alfo  that  they  explain  to  Men,  and  urge  upon 
them,  that  Holinefs  of  Heart  and  Life,  without  which 
they  cannot  fee  the  Lord  ;  together  with  the  Office  and 
Influence  of  the  HOLY  SPIRIT  in  the  Work  of  Sancti- 
fication.  ThefeThings  are  all  infifted  on  in  the  Bible^ 
and  feverally  reprefented  as  having  a  necefTary  Con- 
nection withSalvation  :  And  they  fhould,  in  like  Man- 
ner, be  infifted  on  by  Minifters  in  their  Preaching. 
There  is  no  Inconfiftency  between  the  Truths,  but  a 
perfect  and  glorious  Harmony.  Men  may,  'tis  true, 
confound  them  in  their  Thoughts  ;  they  may  place 
their  own  Holinefs  in  the  Room  of  CHRIST,  or  the 
the  Grace  of  GOD  ;  making  it  ferve  a  Purpofe  it  was 
never  intended  to,  nor  is  fulficient  for  :  And  fo,  under 
the  Notion  of  exalting  the  Grace  of  GOD,  or  the 
Righteoufnefs  of  the  REDEEMER,  they  may  entertain 
a  Thought  of  inherent  perfonal  Hoiinefs,  as  a  Thing 
almoft  insignificant.  But  in  either  of  thefe  Cafes,  they 
abufe  the  Dodhine  of  the  Golpel,  conceiving  amifs  of 
thefe  Truths.  For  they  all  have  their  Ufe  in  the  Af- 
fair of  Salvation  ;  yea,  in  their  proper  Place,  they 
are  all  necefiary  :  Nor  can  there,  be  Salvation  with- 
out them  all.  And  People  fliould  be  told  fo  by  Mini- 
fters. 'Tis  indeed  the  Bufmefs  of  their  Office  to  fee 
thefe  Truths  in  a  clear  and  diftinct  Light  ;  and  to  this 
End  fhould  their  Preaching  be  mainly  calculated. 

E  Only, 


34      A  Convention 

,  Only,  as  there  is  Danger  left  proud  Man  ihould  af- 
cribe  too  little,  in  the  Affair  of  Salvation,  to.  the  Grace 
of  GOD>  and  depend  upon  his  own  Works  inftead  of 
the  Righteoufnefs  by  Faith,  Miniftcrs  fhould  be  particu- 
lar in  guarding  againft  this  Fault :    Tho*  they  fhould 
take  Care,  in  the  doing  of  it,  that  they  don't  run  into 
the  contrary  Extreme  ;   fpeaking  after  fuch  a  Manner 
of  perfonal  evangelical  Holinefs,  as  to  make  it  of  very 
little  Service  :    Whenas  'tis  a  Matter  of  fuch  Impor- 
tance, that  without  it  we  are  barr'd  Entrance  into  the 
Kingdom  of  Heaven,   both  by  the  Appointment  of 
God,  and  the  Frame  of  our  own  Natures.     And  they 
fhould  the  rather  be  conflant  in  affirming,  that  they 
which  have  believed  in  GOD  might  he  careful  to  main- 
tain good  Works,  becaufe  'tis  too  common  a  Thing 
for  profeft  Chriftians  to  be  negligent  of  a  good  Life  •, 
yea,  it  would  be  well,  if  they  were  not  fometimes  in  a 
Temper  of  Mind  to  take  Occafion,  even  from  the 
Crace  of  GOD,  to  continue  in  Sin. 

Moreover  again,  Minifters  Ihould  be  uniform  in  theif 
Preaching  ;   making  it  appear  that  they  are  Men  of 
fikcd  and  fteady  Principles.     Not  that  they  may  nofi 
change  their  Minds,  if  they  have  unhappily  fallen  into 
Error,  and  juft  Grounds  of  Conviftion  are  laid  before 
them.     It  would  be  to  their  Honour,  in  this  Cafe,  to 
own  their  Miftake  -,  and  no  wife  Man  would  think  the 
worfe  of  them  for  it,  but  the  better.    But  a  Change  of 
Sentiment,  arifing  from  a  thorow  deliberate  Examina- 
tion, is  a  Thing  quite  different  from  a  flu&uating  and 
inconilant  State  of  Mind  :    And  if,  from  fuch  a  vo- 
latile  Difpofition,  Minifters  are  pepetually  wavering 
in  their  Thoughts,  to  Day  of  this  Mind,  and  to  Mor* 
row  of  another,  it  will  very  much  tend  to  weaken  their 
Credit :  Nor  may  they  expect  any  Thing  fhort  of  Con- 
tempt, if  they  temporife  in  their  Sermons,  fpeaking  one 
Thing  to  one  People,  and  another  Thing  to  another;* 
on  Purpofe  to  fute  their  Humours,  and  recommend 

themfelves 


A  Convention  SERMON,      35 

themfelves  to  the  feveral  Parties  there  may  be  among 
them.  Such  a  Man  'pleafing  Conduct  is  beneath  the 
Man,  much  more  the  Chriftian^  moil  of  all  the  Mini- 
fter.  How  much  more  becoming  is  it  to  deliver  our 
Minds,  at  all  Times,  and  before  all  People,  as  we  may 
be  call'd,  with  an  open  Frankftefs,  an  honeft  Freedom 
and  Simplicity  ?  It  may,  for  the  prefent,  'tis  true,  be 
of  fbme  Differvice  to  our  Intereft  ;  but,  in  the  End, 
it  will  bring  us  into  Efteem,  and  fecure  for  us  a  Jailing 
good  Reputation  :  Whereas,  if  we  fhift  and  change, 
to  gain  the  Applaufe  of  this,  and  the  other  Party,  we 
fhall  not  only  act  a  mean  and  bafe  Part,  but  take  the 
ready  Way  to  expofe  ourfelves  to  Contempt  :  And  it 
leJdom  happens,  but  fiich  Servility  meets  with  its  juft 
Pefert,  fooner  or  later, 

In  fine,  Minifters  fhould  not  be  wanting  in  a  Care 
about  the  external  Manner  of  their  Preaching.  This 
indeed  is  a  Matter  of  the  leaft  Importance  •,  though, 
perhaps,  moft  recommending  to  the  Generality  of  Peo- 
ple :  For  which  Reafon,  it  would  not  be  mifpent  La- 
bour, if  Minifters  took  fome  Pains  that  the}'-  might  be 
Mafters  of  a  good.  Pronunciation^  and  becoming  Gefture  \ 
To  be  fure,  they  fhould  avoid  difagreeable  Tones  arid 
Whines  -9  as  alfq  unnatural  Diftortions  of  Countenance* 
and  Motions  of  the  Body  :  Neither  fhould  they  turn 
Mimicks^  endeavouring  to  /peak  and  aft>  not  like  them- 
felves,but  thofe  they  admire  :  They  may  herein  Aim  at 
being  more  agreeable,  but  they  really  make  themfelves 
ridiculous.  Above  all,  they  fhould  take  Heed  of 
{peaking  and  afting  as  if  they  were  befide  themfelves  * 
for,  in  this  Cafe,  People  will  be  apt  to  take  them  to 
be  fo,  and  treat  them  with  die  Contempt  due  'to 
fi.ich. 

*..w        '  '  •  ~  .-.       ^.,  •- 

Thefe  now,  and  fuch  like  are  thelnflances,  in Pre$ch- 
in&  which  fhould  employ  the  Care  of  Minifters,  if 
they  would  not  be  defpifec},  I  go  on,  and  fay, 


36      A  Convention  SERMON. 

./3.)  Tliey  fliould  be  equally  careful  they  don't  expofe 
themfelves  by  an  undue  Condu6t,inPoint  of  Church-Or- 
der. Government  is  as  necefTary  \r\Church  as  State  \  tho* 
the  Ends  to  which  it  is  defigned,  and  the  Manner  of 
Adminiftration  may  be  different.  And  fo  far  as  it  lies 
with  Minifters  to  preferve  Order  in  the  Churches,  they 
fhould  be  religioufly  careful  to  do  it  ;  at  all  Times 
difcountenancing  fuch  a  Behaviour,  in  the  Houfe  of 
GOD,  as  tends  to  Confufion.  The  Apoftle  Paul  has 
fet  a  noble  Example  in  this  Kind.  When  there  were, 
among  the  Corinthians^  thofe  who  left  their  own  Bufi- 
nefs,  and  took  upon  them  the  Work  that  was  proper 
to  Mini/I ers^  he  exhorted  and  commanded  them  to  a- 
bide  every  Man,  in  the  fame  Calling  wherein  he  was  call* 
ed  ;  afiuring  them,  that  all  were  not  Apoftles^  or  Pro- 
phets,  or  Teachers.  And  when  they  fpake  many  at 
once,  in  the  Place  of  Wormip,  fo  as  to  endanger  its 
being  faid  they  were  mad,  he  corre&ed  this  Abufe  ; 
minding  them  that  GOD  was  not  the  Author  of  Confu- 
fion^  but  of  Peace^  as  in  all  the  Churches  of  the  Saints  ; 
and  directing,  that  all  Things  Jhould  be  done  decently  and 
in  Order.  The  prefent  Minifters  of  CHRIST,  'tis  true, 
may'nt  pretend  to  determine  in  Matters  of  this  Nature 
with  the  Authority  of  Apoftles  :  Or  if  they  fhould, 
they  would  only  expofe  themfelves  to  Contempt.  But 
yet,  they  may  advife  and  rebuke,  and  back  their  Coun- 
fels  and  Reproofs,  with  fuch  Arguments  from  Scripture 
and  Reafon,  as  are  futed  to  inform  the  Underftanding, 
and  convince  the  Judgment :  Nor  fhould  they  fuffer 
the  Keys  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven,  in  this,  or  any 
other  Ufe  of  them,  to  lie  by  neglected,  where  Perfons 
break  in  upon  the  Rules  of  Decency,  or  otherways 
walk  in  a  diforderly  Manner.  They  fhould  ufe  them 
indeed  with  Prudence  and  Caution,  and  a  becoming 
Tendernefs  and  Companion  :  but  with  a  due  Concern 
alfo  for  the  Honor  of  CHRIST,  and  the  Weil-Being  of 
the  Church  :  And  when  thefe  make  it  necefTary,  they 
fliould,  fo  far  as  it  belongs  to  them^  exercife  the  pro- 
per 


A  Convention  SE  R  MON  .        37 

per  Discipline ^  and  not  be  mov'd  from  theirDuty  here- 
in,neither  thro*  daftardly  Fear,  on  the  one  Hand-,  nor  a 
criminal  Refpect  of  Perfons,  on  the  other.  \fDifcipline 
is  an  Ordinance  of  JESUS  CHRIST,  it  ought  to  be  made 
Ufe  of,  in  Obedience  to  him,  upqn  all  futableOccafions : 
Nor  may  Minifters  expecl  any  other  than  to  be  bafe  in 
theEfteem  of  People,  if  they  fneak  &  cringe,  and  prpf- 
titute  this  Inftitution  of  the  Son  of  GOD  to  the  Pre- 
judices, Pafiions,  or  Humors  of  Men.  'Tis  Difciplin^ 
my  Fathers  and  Brethren,  not  the  meer  Name,  but  the 
vigorous  and  impartial  Execution  of  the  Thing,  that 
muft  preferve  and  eftablim  our  Churches.  Our  Fa- 
thers-found the  Advantage  of  it  in  their  Day  •,  and  it 
would  be  of  like  Service  in  ouit,  wifely  and  faithfully 
adrniniftred,  both  for  the  Credit  of  the  Miniflry,  and 
the  Edification  of  thefe  Churches  in  Peace  and  Ho- 
linefs. 

4.  In  the  laft  Place,  Fourthly,  Minifters  mould  take 
Care  they  don't  hurt  their  Character,by  an  undue  Per- 
formance of  the  more  private  Duties  of  their  Calling. 
Their  Duty  is  not  confin'd  to  their  public  Admin  iftrati- 
ons  :  They  have  a  great  Deal  to  do  in  private  a- 
mong  their  People.  They  muft  vifit  the  fick,  com- 
fort the  Mourners,  inftrucl:  the  ignorant,  warn  the 
wicked,  reduce  the  wandring,  ftrengthen  the  feeble- 
minded, bind  up  the  broken-hearted  •,  and,  in  Ihort, 
fute  their  Counfels,and  Warnings,  and  Confolations,  to 
the  refpeftiveCafes  of  thofe  they  have  to  do  with.  And 
they  fhould  be  always  in  Readinefs  to  attend  thefe  Du- 
ties of  their  Station  •,  not  fperiding  fo  much  of  their 
Time  about  fecular  Employments,  or  in  Studies  foreign 
to  their  Office,  as  to  take  them  off  from  the  faithful 
Discharge  of  them  :  Neither  Ihould  -they  be  partial  in 
their  Refpects  ;  but  endeavour,  by  all  Means,  to  do 
Good  to  all9  preferring  no  one  before  another. 

\ 

'<~'^  In 


38      A  Convention  SERMON. 

(n  *w5V-  -    •   -•         *  v; 

In  a  Word,  Minifters  will  unavoidably  have  frequent 
Occafions  to  converfe  with  their  People  *  and  they 
fhould  ever  be  careful  to  do  it,  after  fuch  a  Manner  as 
not  to  be  thought  morofe,  haughty,  or  unfociable  ;  yet 
fhould  they  keep  at  a  Diftance  from  every  Thing  light, 
and  vain,  or  mean.  They  fhould  be  condefcending, 
but  not  fervile  •,  they  fhould  be  pleafant  and  affable, 
yet  folid  and  grave  ;  and  though  they  fliould  not  be 
backward' to  religious  Difcourfe,  yet  they  fhould  take 
Care  that  it  be  brought  in  fo  as  not  to  look  forc'd  and 
affe&ed  :  And  the  whole  of  their  Converfation  fhould 
be  fuch,  as  may  have  a  Tendency  to  preferve  in  the 
Minds  of  People,  both  a  Love  to  them,  and  a  Venera- 
tion of  them. 

'.  ;  "          :  .    i'    '         ,..*•'.-.  •••,''.•;     '•     ..  -\    *    :  *.  ';•  '•*.*•     '."*'i"V.    '»»•     ,"*  *  •.?*    .• 

And  having  thus,  in  a  plain,  though  imperfecl: 
Manner,  confidered  a  few  of  the  many  Inftances,  where-^ 
in  the  Care  of  Minifters  is  necefiary,  if  they  would 
not  expofe  themfelves  to  Contempt  ;  I  now  go  on, 

III.  In  the  laft  Place,  to  reprefent  the  Obligations 
which  lie  upon  them  to  exprefs  this  Care.  And  thefe 
are  folemn  and  weighty.  The  Honour  of  CHRIST 
calls  for  it  ;  the  Succefs  of  their  own  Miniftry  depends 
very  much  upon  it ;  Nor  can  they  otherwife  give  zgood 
Account  of  tbemfehes  another  Day  :  To  which  I  might 
add  the  Regard  they  owe  to  the  Credit  of  the  Clergy  m 
Common.  Thefe  are  the  Particulars  the  Time  will  per- 
mit me  but  briefly  to  touch  upon. 

i.  The  Honour  of  CHRIST  5s  concerned  in  the  Care 
of  Minifters  not  to  be  defpifed.  They  are  his  Ser- 
vants, as  they  act  in  his  Name,  and  by  Authority  de- 
rived from  him.  And  fhall  they  efteem  it  a  fmall 
Thing,  whether  they  are  bafe,  or  honourable  in  the  E- 
fteem  of  Mankind  ?  If  they  are  defpifed,  and  the  Con- 
tempt comes  through  their  own  Faulty  Imprudences, 
will  not  theDifgrace,  however  unjuftly,  be  refleded  on 

him 


A  Convention  SERMON.     39 

him  who  fent  them  ?  What  greater  Abufes  haVe  been 
offered  to  the  Name  of  CHRIST,  than  thofe  which 
have  been  occafioned  by  the  Follies  and  Vices  of  Mi- 
nifters  ?  And  mall  the  Thought  of  being  thus  inju- 
rious to  our  LORD  and  SAVIOUR  fit  eafy  on  our  Minds  ? 
Shall  we  be  unmindful  of  our  Chara&er,  and  take  no' 
Pains  to  .aft  up  to  the  Dignity  of  our  Office^  when  our 
MASTER  will  fufferfo  much  through  our  Neglect  i 
Whofe  Honour  fhould  we  be  tender  of,  if  not  his  who 
has  feparated  us  from  our  Brethren,  and  called  us  by 
his  Grace  to  the  Miniilry  of  the  Gofpel  •?  The  Ho- 
nor of  the  REDEEMER  fhould  lay  near  our  Heart  : 
And  yet,  what  more  diftant  from  it,  while  our  Conduct 
is  fuch  as  tends  to  make  us  contemptible  •,  for  the  Con- 
tempt will  finally,  though  injurioufly,  be  turned  upon 
CHRIST  himfelf. 


2.  The  Succefs  of  our  Miniftry  depends  Very  much 
Upon  our  not  being  held  in  Contempt.  If  People  have 
a  defpicable  Thought  of  us,  of  what  Advantage  will 
our  Preaching  be  to  them  ?  They  will  conceive  the 
fame  Opinion  of  our  Sermons,  as  they  do  of  our  Per- 
fons  :  And  Ihould  we  preach  the  pure  Truths  of  GOD* 
and  do  it  with  the  Eloquence  of  Angels,  it  would  have 
little  or  no  good  Effect  upon  them.  The  Scribes  and 
Pkarifees  of  old  feem,  in  this,  to  have  been  well  ac- 
quainted with  humane  Nature.  For  when  they  would 
obftruct  the  Miniftry  of  our  SAVIOUR,  it  was  by  bafe 
Attempts  to  leffen  his  Reputation.  Is  not  this,  fay 
they,  the  Carpenter's  Son  ?  And  they  wickedly  mifre- 
prefented  him  to  the  People  as  one  of  a  bad  Character, 
a  Profaner  of  the  Sabbath,  a  Friend  to  Pubficans  and 
Sinners  $  and^  in  fhort,  aPerfon  of  no  Religion  himfelf, 
and  that  would  keep  them  from  having  any  too,  if 
they  minded  what  he  faid;  rightly  judging,  that,  if  they 
could  but  deftroy  his  Credit,  they  fhould,  at  the  fame 
Tim%  render  his  preaching  infignificant  :  And  fo  it 
unhappily  prov'd/m  refpecl;  of  Multitudes,in  that  Day, 

And 


40     A  Convention  SERMON. 

And  the  Effect  will  be  the  fame  now,  and  in  all  future 
Time  to  the  End  of  the  World.  There  is  indeed  no 
fuch  Thing  as  preaching  fo  as  to  anfwer  any  good  End, 
where  Minifters  have  loft  their  Reputation,  and  inftead 
of  Refpect  are  tho't  of  with  Contempt  by  People. 
"  We  may  obferve  (  as  One  expreffes  it ),  when  Men 
"  are  prepofieft  in  Favour  of  any  one,  every  Thing 
"  almoft  which  he  fpeaks,  appears  weighty  and  iigni- 
"  ficant.  Opinion  gives  Luftre  to,  and  begets  a  high 
"  Efteem  even  of  his  WeaknefTes.  When  Opinion 
"  hath  raifed  a  Man  up  to  a  great  Height,  there  muft 
"  be  fomething  fublime  and  extraordinary  in  all  his 
"  Performances.  On  the  contrary,  when  a  Man's  Cre- 
"  dit  is  funk  and  under  Water,  what  little  Regard  is 
*'  paid  to  what  he  fays  ?  He  is  under  fuch  an  unhappy 
"  Difad vantage,  that  if  he  could  fpeak  like  an  Oracle, 
"  it  would  hardly  flick  and  make  an  Imprefllon." 

And  what  a  powerful  Argument  is  this  to  engage 
our  Care  that  we  don't  expofe  our  felves  to  Contempt? 
Are  we  content  to  live  ufelels  ?  Are  we  willing  to  go 
on  in  a  Round  of  attending  the  Duties  of  our  Calling, 
and  do  no  good  ?  Thus  'tis  likely  it  will  be,  if  we  do 
not  look  to  our  felves,  and  take  futable  Care  to  main- 
tain a  good  Character.  It  is  this  that  muft  prepare 
Men's  Minds  for  a  favourable  Reception  of  what  we 
preach, 

""*lS     • '  f  . ' ••'  *      " 

3.  If  we  do  not  ufe  the  proper  Meafures  to  keep 
from  Contempt,  we  mall  not  be  able  to  give  a  good  Ac- 
count of  our  f  elves  another  Day.  Not  but  that  it  may 
be  our  Lot  to  be  defpifed,  notwithftanding  the  moffc 
faithful  Endeavours  to  deferve  the  Efteem  of  People : 
In  which  Cafe,  the  greater  the  Contempt  we  havepafT- 
ed  through,  if  we  have  behav'd  well  under  it,  the 
brighter  will  be  our  Crown  in  the  Day  of  CHRIST. 
But  if  we  have  brought  Contempt  on  our  felves,  by 
our  Follies  and  Vices,  the  Fault  is  our  *>wn,  And  if 

by 


A  Convention  SERMON.      41 

i)y  thus  rendring  our  felves  defpicable,  we  have  not  on- 
ly  hindered  the  Efficacy  of  our  Miniftry^but  unhappi- 
ly been  the  Occafion  of  the  Ruin  of  thofe  Souls,  we 
•might  have  faved  ;  how  dreadful  will  be  the  Account 
we  muft  give  up  unto  GOD!  Should  the  People  of  our 
Charge  accoft  us  at  theBar  of  CHRIST  ;  We  were  ftum- 
bied  at  your  Impi'iidences  ;  we  were  unhirig'd,  in  our 
religious  Sentiments,  by  your  Unfteddineis  ;  we  be- 
came indifferent  to  the  Practice  of  Piety,  through  your 
Want  of  Zeal  in  recommending  it  to  us  *,  we  gradually 
loft  all  ferious  Senfe  of  Divine  Things,  hardened  our 
felves  in  Sin,  and  fettled  in  Profanefs  and  Infidelity, 
from  the  loole,  Vain,  evil  Example  you  fet  before  us : 
I  fay,  Ihoiild  our  People  thus  befpeak  us,  before  the 
Tribunal  of  Judgment,  how  would  it  cut  us  to  the 
Heart,  and  pierce  our  very  Souls  ?  Should  they  go 
on,  and  fay  ;  Had  you  behav'd  fo  as  to  gain  our 
Efteeem  and  Reverence  ;  had  you  preached,  and  con- 
verfed,  and  lived,  fo  as  to  render  Religion  amiable  iri 

__  &  ^^ 

our  Eyes  ;  had  you  been  faithful  in  your  Warnings, 
fkilful  in  your  Counfels^  arid  watched  for  our  Souls  as 
thofe  who  were  eafneftly  defirous  of  their  everlafting 
Salvation,  h  had  not  been  with  us,  a>  it  is  at  this 
Day.  To  you  it  is,  in  a  great  Meafure  owing  •,  to 
your  Negligence  and  Unfaithfulneis-,  to  your  Want  of 
Love  to  our  Souls,  and  Care  of  their  everlafting  Well- 
Being,  that  we  are  now  plac'd  at  the  left  Hand  of 
CHRIST,  and  muft  be  doom'd  to  a '  Departure  from 
'him,  into  the  Place  of  weeping,  and  wailing,  and 
gnafhing  of  Teeth.  Would  not  fach  a  Charge  as 
this  make  .every  Joint  of  us  to  tremble  ?  Should  not 
we  be  ftruck  with  Horror  to  be  thus  challenged  by 
the  Souls  committed  to  our  Overfight,  in  the  great 
and  terrible  Day  of  the  LORD  ?  There  is  no  Guilt 
like  that  of  the  Blood  of  Souls.  It  crieth  for  Ven^ 
geance  :  And  O  who  can  conceive  the  Weight  of 
Vengeance  we  muft  fuffer,  when;  Multitudes  of  loft 

F  Souls 


42,     A  Convention  SERMON. 

Souls  fhall  rife  up,  and  call  for  it  to  be  poured  out 

upon  us  / 

But  befides  the  Souls  of  our  own  proper  Charge^ 
we  fhall,  if  we  make  our  felves  mean,  be  accoun- 
table for  all  the  Damage  that  may  herefrom  arife  to 
Religion  in  general ;  which  will  be  greater  than  we 
can  well  imagine*  Contempt  will  eafily  and  naturally 
be  derived  from  our  Perfons  to  the  Caufe  we  are  ma- 
naging ;  infomuch,  that  if  we  are  bafe  in  the  Opinion 
of  the  World,  Religion  will  be  fo  too.  When  £/*'s 
Sons,  by  their  fhameful  Mifconduct  in  the  PrieJFs  Of- 
fce,  had  made  themfehes  vile,  the  next  Thing  we  hear 
of  is,  that  -Men  abhor? d  the  Offerings  of  the  LORD. 
And  the  Effect  will  be  the  fame  now.  If  Minifters 
behave  fo  as  to  forfeit  their  Credit,  it  will  make  Way 
for  the  Prophanation  of  divine  Ordinances,  or  a  Neglect 
to  attend  on  them  ;  and  from  CarelefTnefs  about  the 
Things  of  Religion,  Men  will  proceed  to  violate  its 
facred  Laws,  and  from  one  Degree  of  Wickednefs  they 
will  go  on  to  another,  'till  they  have  made  themfelves 
abandoned  Sinners.  And  do  we  think  the  Blame  of 
this  no  Ways  belongs  to  us  ?  It  will  all,  if  we  have 
juftly  exposed  our  felves  to  Contempt,  be  charged  on 
us,  to  the  aggravating  our  Condemnation,  in  the  Day 
of  reckoning.  And  better  would  it  have  been  for  us, 
if  we  had  never  been  born.  In  vain  fhall  we  plead 
that  we  have  prophefied  in  CHRIST'S  Name,  that  we 
have  broken  the  Bread  of  Life,  and  poured  forth  the 
Wine  of  Salvation  ; — It  will  rather  expofe  us  to  the 
more  angry  Refentments  of  our  Judge  :  Nor  will  any 
of  the  Sons  of  Adam  drink  deeper  of  the  Cup  of  the 
LORD'S  fiery  Indignation.  I  may  add,  in  the  laft  Place, 

4.  We  are  bound  totheUfe  of  all  properCare  not  to 
fall  into  Contempt,  becaufe  of  the  Damage  which  may 
hereby  accrue  to  the  Miniftry  in  Common.  Were  the 
Hurt  confined  to  our  felves,  the  Obligation  would  be 

the 


A  Convention  SERMON.     43 

the  lefs ;  but  it  will  probably  fpread  from  our  Perfons 
to  the  Profeffion,  and  all  in  general  will  fuffer  through 
our  Mifmanagement.  This,  itmuft  be  owned,  is  very 
unfair.  The  Body  of  the  Clergy  ought  not  to  be  tho't 
the  worfe  of,  becaufe  fome  may  make  themfelves  vile. 
But  fuch  is  the  Temper  of  the  World,  that  they  v/ill 
not  reftrain  their  Contempt  to  the  particular  Minifters 
who  may  deferve  it,  but  will  extend  it  to  all  of  the 
fame  Order.  And  very  fevere  have  been  the  Refledli- 
ons  on  the  whole  Clergy  j&  occafion'd  by  the  ill  Conduct 
of  a  few.  It  is  too  common,  indeed,  upon  the  Mifcar- 
riage  of  one,  to  hear  it  faid,  they  are  all  alike  ;  and 
Ibmetimes  the  Office  it  felf  muft  be  afperfed,  and  even 
the  Wifdom  of  GOD  called  in  queftion  for  eftablifli- 
ing  it.  And  mall  not  a  Regard  to  the  minifterial  Order 
make  us  careful  of  our  Credit  ?  We  mould  certainly 
take  heed,we  do  not  expofe  our  felves  to  Contempt,  be- 
£aufe  if  we  do,  it  will  not  reft  on  our  own  Perfons,  but 
will  more  or  lefs  affect  the  whole  Body  of  Minifters, 

The  APPLICATION  remains.         And 

i.  We  learn  from  what  has  been  faid,  that  the 
Work  of  Minifters  is  very  difficult.  The  Pains 
they  muft  take  to  keep  from  being  defpifed  fhows  it 
to  be  fo.  How  hard  a  Thing  is  it  to  attend  the  van- 
bus  Duties  of  our  Office,  fo  as  to  deferve  the  Efteem  of 
People,  and  Preferve  in  their  Minds  a  becoming 
Refpeft  for  us  ?  Unlefs  we  are  Men  of  good  na- 
tural Abilities,  and  acquired  Accomplifhments  ;  at 
the  fame  Time,  maintaining  a  Care  of  good  Works, 
it  is  impoflible  :  And  even  in  this  Cafe,  what  Caution 
and  Prudence,  what  aftive  Zeal  and  Diligence,  what 
Refolution  and  Courage,  are  necefTary  ?  O  who  is  fuffi- 
dent  for  thefc  Things  !  If  an  Afoftle  of  JESUS  CHRIST 
cried  out  under  the  Weight  of  Care  that  lay  upon  him, 
how  much  more  Reafon  have  we  to  do  it^  who  are  not 
endowed  with  his  Graces  or  Gifts  ?  We  can't  be-  too 
F  3  fenfible 


44     -4  Convention  SERMON. 

fenfible  of  the  Need  we  ftand  -in  of  divine  Help  :  Nor 
can  we  too  frequently  repair  to  the.  Throne  of  Grace, 
that  we  may  obtain  Mercy,  and  find  the  Grace  that 
may  be  fufficient  for  us. 

2.  What  Reafon  have  Minifters  to  bt  humbled:,  that 
they  have  taken  no  rnore  Care  to  preferve  themfelves 
from  Contempt  ?  Who  of  us  can  fay,  that  our  Con- 
du6t  has  been  unexceptionable  ?  That  we  have  be- 
hav'd  in  our  Office  fo  as  to  give  no  Occafipn  of  Re- 
proach ?  Dare  we,  any  of  us,  the  beft  of  us,  lay  our 
Hands  upon  our  Hearts,  and  juftify  our  felves  before 
GOD  ?  We  have  all,  at  one  Time  or  another,  acted 
below  our  Character,  in  a  lefs  or  greater  Degree  :  And 
the  more  fenfible  we  are  of  it,  and  humbled  for  it,  the 
more  worthy  we  mall  be  of  Refpect  and  Honor.  And 
have  we  not,  fome  of  us,  fo  expos'd  our  felves  as  that 
human  Frailty^  cannot  be  our  Excufe  ?  Are  we  none 
of  us,  by  criminally  neglecting  our  Studies,  lefs  know- 
ing in  Things  pertaining  to  the  Kingdom  of  CHRIST, 
than  we  might  and  ought  to  have  been  ?  Have  we 
none  of  us  too  often  ventured  into  the  Pulpit,  when 
\ve  have  had  nothing  to  fay  there,  but  what,  through 
Want  cf  previous  Meditation  and  Care,  has  been  crude 
and  indigefted,  and  fitted  rather  to  bring  us  into  Dif- 
credit  with  judicious  Hearers,than  to  profit  their  Souls  ? 
Have  we,  none  of  us,  been  too  carelefs  of  our  Lives, 
behaving  after  fuch  a  Manner  as  to  prejudice  People 
againfl  Religion,rather  than  recommend  it  to  their  Love 
and  Practice  ? 

I  fay  not  thefe  Things  to  iuggeft  Evil  of  the  Body 
qf  the  Minifters  of  this  Generation  ;  for  I  really  believe, 
and  would  take  this  Opportunity  to  declare  it,  that  they 
are  as  pious,  and  faithful,  and  laborious  a  Set  of  Men, 
as  any  Part  cf  theChriftian  World  is  favoured  with.  Jam 
indeed  fenfible  they  are  too  commonly  defpifed  at  this 
Day,  and  to  as  great  aDegree  as  was  ever  known  in  the 

Country  ; 


A  Convention  SERMON.     45 

Country  ;  but  I  truftinGOD,  the  Contempt  is  injurious, 
Not  that  I  think  it  is  fo,  in  Refpect  of  them  all  :  And 
'tis,  perhaps,  principally  owing  to  fome  of  our  own  Or- 
der^  that  the  Credit  of  the  Miniftry  runs  fo  low.  Arc 
there  none  among  us,  whofe  Conduct,  in  the  late  Day 
of  Trial,  has  led  People  into  a  mean  Thought  of  Mi- 
niflers  in  general  ?  Did  we  all  difcover  that  Know- 
ledge of  the  "World,  and  of  the  Frame  of  human  Na- 
ture, and  act  with  that  prudent  Forecaft,  which  might 
have  been  expedted  of  Men  of  our  Character  ?  Did 
we  all  ftand  up  for  the  Order  of  the  Gojpel,  and  in  De- 
fence of  its  Truths  and  Ways^  with  the  Courage  and 
Faithfulnels  which  became  the  Servants  of  JESUS 
CHRIST  ?  .Have  we,  none  of  ns,  too  much  connived 
at  thofe  Errors  in  DoEfrine^  and  Irregularities  -in  Prac- 
tice^ which  have  had  a  dreadful  Tendency  to  fink  the 
Credit  of  the  Miniftry ,  yea,  and  of  Religion  too,  in  the 
Land  ?  Have  we,  none  of  us,  invited  into  our  Pul- 
pits Men  of  mean  Parts,  and  no  Learning,  at  whofe 
Performances  we  our  felves  have  been  afliamed  ?  Have 
we,  none  of  us,  taken  Part  with  thofe,  who  have  treat- 
ed the  beft  Minifters  in  the  Country  with  Neglect,  tq 
iay  nothing  worfe  ?  Have  we,  none  of  us,  had  the 
Perfons  of  fome  particular  Minifters  in  Admiration^  to 
the  reflecting  an  unjuftbdium  on  others?  Have  we  not 
flattered  them  beyond  all  Bounds  of  Modefty,  and  by 
pur  Flatteries  ftrengthened  their  Influence  to  hurt  the 
Reputation,  and  together  with  it  the  Ufefulnefs  of  the 
Minftry,  GOD  has  fet  up  in  tbefe  Churches  ?  And  what 
is  worfe  than  all  this,  have  we,  none  of  us,  acted  in 
the  proper  Charges  of  our  Brethren,  fo  as  to  leaven  the 
Minds  of  their  People  with  evu1  Surmifings  againil 
them,  though  Men  of  as  good  Reputation  for  their 
minifterial  Gifts  and  Faithfulnefs,  as  our  felves  ?  Have 
we  not  fpoken  of  them  in  a  Manner  fo  cenforious  and 
uncharitable,  as  to  bring  them  into  Difefteem,  in  their 
own  Parifhes  ?  Have  we  not  fided  with  People  in  the 
Difgrace  they  have  heaped  upon  them  ?  Have  we  not; 

encouraged 


46      A  Convention  SERMON. 


encouraged  them  in  their  Alienations,  Difaffe&ions  and 
Separations  ?  Or,  if  we  have  had  too  much  Policy,  or 
too  little  Courage,  to  be  open  in  thefe  Things,  have  we 
not  byfecret  Whiff  ers^  andClofet-Infinuations,  done  the 
Bufmefs  as  effectually  ?  I  charge  nothing  upon  any  in 
particular  ;  but  GOD  knows,  and  we  all  know,  that 
there  has  been  great  Guilt  as  to  thefe  Things  :  And  fo 
Far  as  we  are  any  of  us,  Sharers  in  it,  we  have  Reafon 
for  deep  Humiliation  before  GOD.  A  defpifed  Mini* 
itry  will  be  a  ufelefs  one.  Wherein  therefore  we  have 
had  a  Hand  in  bringing  our  Brethren  into  undeferv'd 
Contempt,  we  have  done  great  Dififervice  to  the  Inter- 
eft  of  the  REDEEMER  ;  nor  could  we,  in  any  Thing, 
have  more  pleas'd  the  Enemy  of  all  Righteoufnefs  : 
For  his  Kingdom  is  never  more  likely  to  be  in  a  flou- 
rifhing  State,  than  when  the  Miniftry  of  a  Land  is  in- 
jurioufly  held  in  Contempt.  The  good  LORD  humble 
and  pardon  us  all,  wherein  we  have  been  faulty  !  And 
may  we  be  more  upon  our  Guard  in  Time  to  come  ! 

3.  Minifters  fhould  do  what  they  can  to  keep  one 
another  from  being  defpifed  •,  not  by  countenancing 
one  another  in  Wickednefs ;  nor  yet  by  Handing  up  for 
each  other,  in  that  which  is  a  Difhonour  to  Men  of 
our  Character.  This  would  be  to  bring,  both  our 
felves,  and  the  whole  Miniftry,  into  Difgrace.  But  we 
fhould  be  tenderly  concerned  for  the  Reputation  of  pur 
Fellow-Labourers  in  the  LORD,  and  ready,  in  all  futable 
Ways,  to  advance  it.  We  fhould  be  difpofed  to  pre- 
fer our  Brethren  in  Love,  to  hope  well,  and  believe 
well,  and  fpeak  well  of  them,  fo  far  as  there  is  Reafon 
to  do  fo.  And  if  it  is  the  Unhappinefs  of  any  to  be 
treated  with  Difrefpect,  not  becaufe  they  are  in  them- 
felves  worthlefs  ;  or  have  acted  a  mean  and  bafe  Part, 
but  becaufe  they  have  to  do  with  fuch  as  are  unreafon- 
ably  prejudiced  againft  them,  we  fhould  both  pity 
them,  and  ufe  our  beft  Endeavours,  as  we  may  have 
Opportunity,  to  wipe  off  the  Dirt  that  is  thrown  up- 
on 


A  Convention  SERMON.     47 

on  them.  To  be  fure,  we  fhould  not  encourage  Bufy- 
Bodies  in  coming  to  us  with  their  idle  tatling  Stories  ; 
neither  fhould  we  ftrengthen  contentious  Men  in  their 
Alienations  and  Difaffe6tions  ;  much  lefs  ftill  may  we 
allow  our  felves  in  fecret  Whifpers  to  the  Difadvantage 
of  our  Brother,  while  we  dare  not  tax  him  to  the  Face, 
with  the  Evil  we  infinuate  behind  his  Back. — Minifters 
may  do  a  great  Deal  to  fupport  the  Reputation  of  one 
another  ;  and  if  they  would  heartily  endeavour  to  do  it, 
fo  far,  I  mean,  as  they  might  with  Reafon  and  Juftice, 
we  fliould  foon  fee  the  Clergy  in  better  Repute  than 
they  enjoy  at  this  Day. 

4.  How  careful  fhould  Minifters  be  to  introduce 
none  into  the  facred  Office  who  are  like  to  be  defpifed  ? 
We  are  the  Perfons  to  whom  it  belongs,  according  to 
the  Appointment  of  JESUS  CHRIST,  tofeparate  Men 
to  the  Work  of  the  Minifhy  :  And  we  ought  to  be 
cautious  on  whom  we  lay  Hands  for  this  Purpofe.  We 
fhould  notfuddenly  do  it  in  an  Affair  of  fuch  Impor- 
tance ;  nor  indeed  at  all,  till  firft  fatisfied,  that  the 
Qualifications  of  the  Perfons  are  fuch,as  that  there  is  no 
Profpect  of  their  falling  into  Contempt.  And  in  Or- 
der to  this,  there  fhould  be  fome  Trial  of  them  before 
they  are  intrufled  with  the  Care  of  Souls.  It  might  be 
beft,  if  we  countenanced  none  in  preaching9  till  they  had 
firft  been  examined.  I  know  it  has  been  a  long  Cuftom 
for  young  Men  to  go  into  the  Pulpit,  when  they  them- 
felves  think  fit  to  do  fb.  Perhaps,  the  Churches  in 
this  Land  are  the  only  ones,  who  take  fo  little  Care  in 
a  Matter  of  fuch  Confequence  to  the  Intereft  of  the 
Kingdom  of  CHRIST.  3Tis  high  Time  it  was  rectifi- 
ed .-  And  if,  as  a  Means  to  fo  good  an  End,  Minifters 
would  be  peremptory  in  refufing  their  Pulpits  to  all 
Candidates,  'till  they  had  pafs'd  their  frials  before 
proper  Judges,  it  might  be  of  fingular  Service. 

To 


48     A  Convention  SERMON. 

To  be  fure,  all  reaibnable  Care  fhbuld  be  taken,  that 
none  be  fet  apart  for  the  Service  of  CHRisT,in  the  Gof- 
pel-Miniflry,  but  faithful  Men  -,  fuch  as  are  both  apt, 
and  able  to  teach  ;  fuch  as  are  of  good  Behaviour,  and 
have  a  good  Report  without.  Raw,  ignorant,  unfurnim- 
ed  Men,  ought  never  to  have  committed  to  them  the 
Administration  of  divine  Ordinances.  Says  the  Apo- 
ftle,  i  Tim.  iii.  6.  Not  a  NOTICE,  left  being  lifted  up 
with  Pride,  he  fall  into  the  Condemnation  of  the  Devil. 
And  if,  inOppofition  to  his  Advice,  we  are  a&ive  in  the 
Ordination  of  fuch  Perfons*  or  taking  them  into  burPul- 
pits,  how  can  we  excufe  ourfelves  before  GOD  ?  Should  x 
they  fink  into  Contempt,  as  in  all  Probability  they  foon 
•wii^the  Reproach  would  reach  us ;  nor  can  it  be  but  we 
fhould  be  accountable  for  the  Scandal  hereby  brought 
Upon  the  Minifhy. 

5.  We  fee,  from  what  has  been  faid,  the  Reaibn  we 
have  to  be  thankful  for  the  Means  of  Education  among 
us.  Not  but  that  fome,  in  thefe  Days,  have  expreffed 
a  mean  Opinion  ofLearmng^  and  of  the  Colleges,  where 
are  the  befl  Means  for  the  Acquirement  of  it.  It  is  a 
Pity  any  in  holy  Orders  have  been  fo  unadvifed  as  to 
lead  People  into  this  Thought.  They  are  herein  very 
tinlike  to  our  pious  Fore-Fathers,  who  had  flich  a  Senfe 
of  the  Neceffity  of  Learning  as  a  Qualification  for  the 
Mtniftry,that  they  foon  founded  a  College  in  the  midft 
of  a  thoufend  Straits  and  Difficulties  •,  from  whence, 
through  the'  Smiles  of  Heaven,  our  Churches  have,  all 
along,  been  llipplied  with  able  Minifters  ;  Men  who 
have  been  a  Credit  to  the  facred  Function,  and^  I  may 
fay,  an  Honour  to  the  Country.  And  mall  this*  and 
the  other  School  of  the  Prophets  more  lately  erected, 
be  now  flighted  and  neglected  ?  We  ought  rather  to 
rank  them  amongfl  the  richefl  Blefiings,  which  call  for 
our  Thankfiilnefs  to  Almighty  GOD  ;  Nor.can  we 
lay  ourfelves  out  too  much  to  ftrengthen  the  Reputati- 
on 


A  Convention  SERMON.     49 

on  and  Ufefulnefs  ;   efteeming  them  the  beft  Security 
againft  an  ignorant,  and  therefore  a  contemptible  Miniftry. 

And  it  were  to  be  wifhed,  the  young  Men,  in  thefe 
Schools,  would  wifely  improve  the  Price  put  into  their 
Hands  to  get  Wifdom  and  Underftanding.     And  let 
me  advife  the  Candidates  of  the  Miniftry,  thofe  in  par- 
ticular who  may  be  hereprefent,  not  to  rulh  too  haftily 
into  the  facred  Employment,  left  they  expofe  not  only 
themfelves,  but  Religion  alfo  to  Contempt.  Give  your- 
felves  to  Reading,  Meditation  and  Prayer  ;  and  conti- 
nue in  thefe  Things,  'till  you  have  attained,  under  the 
Divine  Influence,  a  fumble  Furniture,  both  of  Gifts 
and  Graces,  for  the  Service   of  the  Sanctuary.     And 
don't  truft  your  own  Judgments  in  a  Matter  of  fo  great 
Importance.     And,  if  you  mould  be  urg'd  to  enter 
upon  Preaching,  by  thofe  who  know  not  whether  you 
are  qualified  for  the  Bufinefs,  be  not  overcome  to  yield 
to  their  Entreaties  ;  but  wait  'till  you  are  declared  fit, 
by  fuch  as  are  proper  Judges  in  the  Cafe.     And  don't 
be  difcouraged  from  Labour  and  Pains  to  get  furnim'd 
with  confiderable  Meafures  of  Learning,  both  Divine 
and  Humane,  becaufe,  as  the  Times  are,  it  may  be  of 
little  Service  to  recommend  you  to  the  Efteem  of  ma- 
ny People.     The  State  of  Things,  it  is  to  be   hop'd, 
won't  always  continue  as  at  prefent :    or  however,  you 
•will  find  the  Advantage  of  previous  hard  Study,  thro' 
your  whole  Life  ;  befides  that  you  will  be  hereby  qua- 
lified to  be  greater  Bleflings,  in  your  Day,  wherever  the 
Providence  of  GOD  fliall  fix  your  Place  of  Labour. 

t  :  6.  People  fhould  learn,  from  what  has  been  faid,  not 
to  defpife  Minifters,  nor  do  any  Thing  that  may  tend  to 
bring  them  into  Difcredit.  I  mean  not,  Brethren,  to  blame 
any  of  you  for  entertaining  a  mean  Tho't  of  Minifters,  or 
exprefling  the  low  Opinion  you  have  of  them,  when, 
by  their  Behaviour,  they  have  forfeited  a  Right  to  your 
Ksgards.  *Tis  fit  and  proper  your  Sentiments  of,  and 
G  Conduft 


50     A  Convention  SERMON* 

Conduct   towards  us>  Ihould  be  adjufted  to  our  vifibfe 
Character  ?    And  if  we  make  our  felves  contemptible* 
\ve  ought  to  be  bafe  in  your  Efteem.     But  then,  you 
fiiould  take  Care  you  don't  defpife  us,  when  we  give 
you  no  fufficient  Occafion  to  treat  us  with  Contempt. 
You  ihould  not  watch  for  our  Halting,  [nor  aggravate 
every  Infirmity  we  may  be  betray'd  into  ;  but  be  rea- 
dy to  make  all  reafonable  Allowances  in  our  Farour, 
confidering  we  are  Men  of  like  Paflions  with  yourfelves, 
and  liable  not  only  to  the  fame,  but  to  more  and  great- 
er Difficulties  and  Temptations.     Don't  defpife  us  fof 
common  Frailties,  but  rather  cover  them  with  the  Man* 
tie  of  Charity.     Don't  take  up,  and  harbour  in  your 
Breads,  unjuft  Prejudices,  either  againft  our  Perfonsy  or 
the  Office    we  fuftain  :    In  fuch  a  Cafe,    fhould  we 
behave  ever  fo  circumfpe&ly,  you  would  turn  every 
Thing   to  our  Difadvantagp  > :    Nor  would  it  be  in 
our  Power,   fhould   ^e    b8t|^   preach  and  live  like 
Angels,     to  make    ydu   think    well    of  us.      Take 
Heed    efpecially,     that    you  do  not  defpife  us  for 
thofe  Things,  which  ought  rather  to  recommend  us 
to  your  Veneration.    If  we  reprove  you  for  your  Vices, 
don't  be  difaffe&ed  to  us  ;    for  this  we  muft  do,  or 
we  cannot  be  faithful  to  him  who  fent  us.     If  we  fee 
you  expos'd  to  Danger,  or  turning  out  of  the  good  old 
IVay,  don't  take  it  amifs  if  we  are  free  in  telling  you  of 
it ;  for  we  are  moved  hereto  from  the  Love  we  bear  to 
you.     If  we  ftand  up  in  Defence  of  the  Faith  and  Or- 
der of  the  Gofpel,  don't  fay  we  ace  carnal,  and  treat  us 
as  though  we  were  your  Enemies,  and  the  Enemies  of 
JESUS  CHRIST  ;    for  'tis  in  Obedience  to  him,  and 
out  of  Compafiion  to  your  Souls,  that  we  thus  run  the 
Hazard  of  your  Difpleafure.     In  a  Word,  diveft  your 
Minds,  as  much  as  may  be,  of  every  wrong  Biafs,  and 
candidly  form  your  Sentiments  of  us,  not  from  this  & 
the  other  particular  A6lion,  not  from  our  being  of 
or  the  other  Party  j   but  from  what  appears  ia 


A  Convention  SERMON.      5 1 

veral  Conduft  :  And  if  this  is  fuch  as  will  allow  you 
to  think  honourably  of  us,  be  in  a  Temper  to  do  ib  ; 
-and  do  not  carry  it  towards  us  with  Negle6t,much  lefs 
Contempt,  unlefs  there  is  evident  Reafon  given  for  it  : 
And  then,  if  we  find  Fault,  we  mall  be  unjiift  to  you, 
and  partial  to  ourfelves. 

And  you  fhould  not  only  take  Care,  that  you  do 
not  defgife  us,  but  that  you  do  not  do  any  Thing  that 
may  tend  to  bring  us  into  Difcredit.  If  any  of  you 
fhould  not  relifh  our  Manner  of  preaching,  as  not  be- 
ing fo  well  fated  to  your  particular  Turn  of  Mind,  do 
not  prejudice  others  againft  it,  who  may  be  both  grati- 
fied and  profited  by  it.  If  any  of  you  fhould  be  fo 
defe6live  in  your  Charity  as  to  fufpect,  whether  we  are 
the  Men  inwardly  we  appear  to  be  outwardly,  do  not 
leaven  the  Minds  of  others  with  the  like  evil  Surmif- 
ings  ;  don't  fpeak  of  us  as  Wolves  in  Sheep's  Cloatbing ; 
do  not  ib  much  as  whifper  a  Thing  fo  injurious  to  our 
Character.  If  any  of  you  fhould  be  fond  of  the 
Preaching  of  Men  of  fmall  Capacities  and  no  Learn- 
ing, do  not  fo  infift  upon  our  taking  them  into  out- 
Pulpits,  or  feparating  them  to  the  Work  of  the  Mini- 
ftry,  as  to  force  us  to  difoblige  you,  or  expofe  our- 
felves to  thofe  who  have  more  Knowledge  and  Judg- 
ment. 

And  here  let  me  recommend  to  you  one  Thing, 
which,  if  duly  confidered,  would  be  of  great  Service  to 
the  Credit,  of  the  Miniftry  \  and  that  is,  that  you  be 
well  fatisfied,  not  only  of  the  good  Difpofition  cf  your 
Children,  but  their  Promptness  to  learn^  before  you  de- 
vote them  to  the  Service  of  GOD,  in  the  Go/pel  of 
his  SON.  Don't  think  it  will  tend,  either  to  tbeir  Re- 
pute, or  the  Benefit  of  the  World,  to  give  them  an 
Education,  with  a  View  to  the  Mimfiry,  if  their 
Abilities  are  of  the  lower  Size.  They  may 
their  Maker,  and  Generation,  in  feme  other 
G  z.  Era- 


52     A  Convention  SERMON. 

Employment.  They  may  have  a  Genius  for  one  or 
other  of  the  various  Bufinefles  of  Life,  though  not  a 
Turn  of  Mind  fitted  to  make  them  mine  as  Minifters  : 
And  'tis  Pity,  their  Ufefulnefs  in  the  World  fhouldbe 
obftrufted,  by  a  Miftake  in  their  Education  which 
can't  eafily  be  afterwards  mended.  And  if  your 
Circumftances  in  Life  fhould  fet  you  above  your 
Neighbours,  either  in  Point  of  Riches,  or  Honour, 
do  not  think  it  will  be  a  Difgrace  to  you,  to  devote 
your  Sons  to  the  Work  of  ferving  at  GOD's  Altar^  if 
they  appear  to  be  peculiarly  difpos'd  to  it,  and  form'd 
ibr  it.  'Tis  true,  they  will  not,  in  this  Station  of 
Life,  be  in  the  Way  of 'worldly  Preferments  -,  but  yet, 
what  more  noble  Employment  than  that  of  Co-workers 
v/ith  CHRIST,  in  forming  Men  to  a  Meetnefs  for  the 
eternal  Service  and  Enjoyment  of  GOD  in  Heaven  ? 
And  if  your  Sons  fhould  be  Injlruments  in  turning  ma- 
ny Sinners  to  Righteoufnefs,  would  not  this  VeflecT:  an 
Honor,  even  upon  you,  both  in  this  World,  and  that 
which  is  to  come  ? 

Let  me  further  fay,  as  Minifters,  when  low  in  the 
World,  and  hard  put  to  it  for  a  Livelihood,are  too  often 
defplied,  take  Care  you  don't  withhold  from  them  more 
than  is  meet.  And  where  'tis  the  Lot  of  any  to  be  fix'd 
among  People,  who,  thro' Prejudices  againftthe  Gofpel, 
do  little  towards  their  Subfiftence,  fuffer  me  to  befpeak 
for  them  your  charitable  Afliftance  ;  for  thofe  efpeci- 
ally,  who,  at  the  Defire  of  this  Convention^  and  as  en- 
couraged by  Promifes  of  Help  from  them,  have  gone 
forth  into  fuch  difficult  Service.  One  Defign  of  our 
being  now  together  is,  to  contribute  to  the  Support  of 
thefe  Miffionaries  ;  and,  I  doubt  not,  you  will  join 
with  us  in  this  Aft  of  Piety.  We  have  had  Experi- 
ence of  your  Goodnefs  in  former  Collections,  and  truft 
the  prefent  one  will  be  enlarged  through  your  Libera- 
lity. May  we  all,  both  Minifters  and  People^  freely 
give  as  we  have  freely  received  •,  and  to  our  Bounties 

let 


.  ,jrv  «  t»--<.       .r^ 

A  Convention   SERMON. 

let  us  add  our  Prayers,  that  thefe  Servants  of  theJLoRD 
may  be  carried  through  all  their  Difficulties,  and  luc- 
ceeded  in  f  heir  Rnrieavours  to  do  Good  to  Spuls,  to  the 
Joy  of  their  Hearts  here,  and  the  brightning  their 
Crown  of  Glory  hereafter. 

In  fine,  and  above  all,,  fee  to  it,  as  you  have  any 
Value  for  our  Credit,  that  our  Miniftry  be  not  loft 
upon  you.  If  you  reap  no  fpiritual  Profit  by  our  la- 
bours for  the  Good  of  your  Souls,  but  continue  in  your 
Sins,  and  grow  worfe  inftead  of  better,  nothing  will 
have  a  more  dreadful  Tendency  to  bring  us  into  Dif- 
grace.  The  Language  of  your  Impenitence  will  be, 
that  we  are  a  ufelefs  Set  of  Men  :  Nor  will  the  Ene- 
mies of  Religion  fail  of  improving  it  to  our  Reproach. 
Whereas,  if,  under  our  Miniftry,  you  are  effectually 
taught  to  deal  juftly,  and  love  Mercy,  and  walk  hum- 
bly with  GOD,  this  would  put  to  Silence  thofe  who 
might  be  difpos'd  to  fpeak  Evil  againft  us,  and  procure 
for  us  a  Name  better  than  precious  Ointment.  If,  by 
Means  of  our  Preaching,  you  are  convinced  of  Sin, 
and  turn'd  from  the  Power  of  it ;  if  your  Tempers 
are  rectified,  and  Manners  reform'd  ;  if  you  are  really 
brought  to  love  GOD  and  your  Neighbour,  and,  in 
one  Word,  to  poffefs  and  exercife  that  Faith  and  Hu- 
mility, and  all  thofe  Chriftiari  Graces,  wherein  the  I- 
mage  of  GOD  and  the  Power  of  Religion  do  truly 
confift,  we  mall  not  need  any  other  Recommendation  ; 
you  will  then  be  a  living  ftanding  Proof  of  our  Ufe- 
fulnefs  :  And  welhould  herefrom  be  under  Advantage 
to  do  (till  greater  Service,  to  our  own  Comfort  in  this 
World,  and  our  fhining,  in  the  next,  as  the  Brightnefs 
of  the  Firmament,  and  as  the  Stars  forever  and  ever. 

And  now,  may  we  all,  both  Minifters  and  People, 
receive -what  we  have  heard,  fo  far  as  it  is  the  Truth 
in  Jefus,  in  the  Spirit  of  Love  and  Meeknefs.  'Tis 
probable,  we  fhall  never  all  of  us  be  together  again  in 

this 


. 

A  Convention  SERMON. 

/ 

this  Houfe.  The  Faces  of  fome,  who  were  prefent 
the  laft  Year,  we  fhall  fee  no  more, 'till  we  meet  in  tKe 
Day  of  the  appearing  of  the  SON  of  MAN.  May  we 
look  to  ourfelves,  and  fo  behave  in  our  stations,  as  that 
we  may  then  be  found  at  the  right  Hand  of  CHRIST, 
and  have  Admiffion  into  that  Kingdom,  prepared  be- 
fore the  Foundations  of  the  World,  where  we  lhall  no 
more  be  in  a  Temper  to  defpife,  nor  fhall  ever  give 
Occafion  for  Contempt ;  where  we  lhall  no  more  treat 
one  another  with  Bitternefs,  Anger  and  Clamour,  but 
live  together  in  perfeft  Love  and  Peace  ;  where,  in- 
ftead  of  differing  and  contending  with  each  other,  we 
fhall  all  be  of  one  Mind  and  one  Heart  -,  joining  with 
the  innumerable  Company  of  Angels  and  glorified 
Saints,  in  faying  with  a  loud  Voice,  Bleflmg,  and  Ho- 
nor, and  Glory,  and  Power,  be  unto  HIM  THAT 
SITTETH  ON  THE  THRONE,  and  unto  the  LAMB  for 
ever  and  ever.  Amen,  and  Amen. 


FINIS. 


